The breeding habitat is open deciduous wooded areas and cultivation, and in Florida also mangroves.

The black-whiskered vireo builds a cup nest in a fork of a tree branch, and lays 2–3 white eggs.

The adult black-whiskered vireo has dull olive-green upperparts and white underparts, with yellowish on the flanks and under the tail.

This species is similar to red-eyed vireo, but is duller and browner above, and is best distinguished by the black whisker mark.

The black-whiskered vireo gleans insects from tree foliage, sometimes hovering while foraging.