Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Warbling Vireo
Viréo mélodieux
Vireo gilvus
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) along with the Red-eyed Vireo are the most common vireos seen in North America. It is recognized by its warbling melody, heard from up high, in mostly deciduous trees. It is heard more often than seen. It is similar in appearance to the Philadelphia Vireo that has all the same features but shows more yellow on its breast and flanks. Similar to all the other vireo species, its main diet is insects,.
Distinctions: The male and female are similar looking in appearance. It has a large bill with a visible hook at the end of the upper bill, same identifying features seen in other vireos. It is very plain in appearance, soft dull green or light brown body with a white breast, resembles warbler-type birds, but has a stockier build. Soft green to light brown plumage, white eye browlines, no wing bars and slightly yellow-coloured flanks.
Voice: Warbling melody, easily recognized, sings from high up in mature deciduous trees and is heard more often than seen.
Nesting: Three to five white eggs, speckled with brown or black spots. Suspended from a crotch on a branch high up in a mature tree, very similar to the Red-eyed Vireo's eggs. The nest is composed of strips of wood bark, plant fibres and other fine materials.
Life, Habitat & Pictures of North American Vireos
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5" 14cm | 8.5" 21.6cm | 0.4oz 11.3g | Vireonidae | Vireo gilvus |
North American Bird Calls
- Click to hear Choice 1
- Click to hear Choice 2
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: Found throughout North America, from eastern New Brunswick, west into the Great Lakes, into the northern Northwest and Yukon Territories, south into southern California, east to North Carolina coast and up into Canada. Migrates into Central and South Americas during the late fall and winter months.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.
