North American field guide
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
Identification
Field notes
10-13 cm (4-5") Uncommon. Central and southwestern United States, declining in southern California due to Cowbird brood parasitism. Willows, mesquite, thorny thickets, stream sides.
Tiny drab active bird. Plumage is highly variable over range. Grayish to olive-green above; white to pale yellow below. Light wing bars. Narrow light eye ring.
Variable plumage makes it difficult to identify but song is distinct for a vireo.
Song: fast warble "tweedle-deedle-dum? Tweedle-deedle-dee!"
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
"Least" Bell's Vireo
Credit: Don DesJardinWhere it lives
Distribution map
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Bell's Vireo
1 ruleRule 1 16 criteria · confidence 3
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- None · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Uniform · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Uniform color · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- Was the HEAD striped ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?
- Feeding at flowers · Foraging by hanging upside down · Foraging rapidly · Foraging slowly and deliberately · Chasing and harassing other birds in flight
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer · Fall