Bird Identification

Red-eyed Vireo

Vireo olivaceus L 6" (15 cm)

Photo by Maslowski Wildlife Productions. Listen to a red-eyed vireo.

One of the most abundant woodland birds in North America, red-eyed vireos can be found almost anywhere there are deciduous trees, including many woodlots and mixed forests. The gray cap, white supercilium, dark line through the eye, greenish upperparts, whitish underparts, and large bill are distinctive. The contrasting cap separates it from the warbling vireo and the whitish throat from the Philadelphia vireo. Red-eyeds spend most of their time in the mid and upper canopy of forested areas, moving slowly and deliberately as they feed. The males are among the most persistent singers of all birds and have been recorded singing more than 10,000 songs a day in spring. The song of the red-eyed vireo is one of the few woodland voices that is often heard in the middle of hot summer days. The song consists of quick two and three note whistled phrases delivered with measured breaks, so that each phrase seems to stand alone. The birds also have a soft catbird-like mew note that they give when they are agitated.