Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesForestCup nestSmall · 15 g

What the Blue-headed Vireo sounds like

Sonogram of the Blue-headed Vireo: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by steve · Song · Salem, Burke County, North Carolina, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Blue-headed Vireo: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Song · Bear Head Lake State Park, St. Louis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Blue-headed Vireo: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call, song · Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The blue-headed vireo has similar plumage year round and does not drastically change its appearance during the breeding season. It can be characterized by its olive green upper body, two bold yellow wing bars down the edge of its wing, and a deep blue-grey crown from which it gets its name. The juvenile plumage of immature blue-headed vireos is not distinct but very similar to the adult plumage. Voice: The primary song of the blue-headed vireo is a simple, slow, monotonous tune that is often confused with the faster red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus) song. The primary song is sung only by the males and usually only during the breeding season. The males become quite vocal during the breeding season, with the song frequency reaching its height prior to mating and then decreasing after copulation.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Blue-headed Vireo

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 8 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Blue-headed Vireo

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 14 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Panama.

About the Blue-headed Vireo

The blue-headed vireo is a migrating song bird found in North and Central America. There are currently two recognized subspecies that belong to the blue-headed vireo. It has a range that extends across Canada and the eastern coast of the United States, Mexico, and some of Central America. It prefers large temperate forests with a mix of evergreen trees and deciduous under growth.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Blue-headed Vireo vs Red-eyed Vireo · Blue-headed Vireo vs White-eyed Vireo · Blue-headed Vireo vs Yellow-throated Vireo · Blue-headed Vireo vs Hutton's Vireo

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