North American field guide
Warbling Vireo
Vireo gilvus
Identification
Field notes
13 cm (5") Common in summer throughout North America in deciduous forests, especially near streams, shade trees, rural roadsides.
A drab nondescript vireo. Olive-gray above; usually white below but may show yellow especially along sides in western birds. Lacks wing bars. Whitish eyebrow stripe. No dark line through eye.
Often forages high in trees and thus heard more than seen. Sings throughout the day.
Song: drowsy continuous warble.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Warbling Vireo singing and eating moth.
Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy ProductionsWhere 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.
Warbling Vireo
1 ruleRule 1 17 criteria · confidence 4
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- None · Unknown
- Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
- No · Unknown
- Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?
- No · 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) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · 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) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer · Fall