Red-eyed Vireo

LC - Least Concern

N5B - Secure Breeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

not listed

Red-eyed Vireo small perching songbird is relatively large for a vireo. It is the most common and widespread vireo in Minnesota.

It is about 6″ in length, has a10″ wingspan, and weighs about 0.63 ounces. The upper parts are olive green. The breast, belly, and throat are white to pale gray. The flanks and undertail coverts are yellowish. The wings are not barred.

The crown is gray and is edged with black. There is a dark gray line through the eye that extends forward to the bill and a white “eyebrow” line above that. The irises of adults are dark red, though this is apparent only at close range. The cheek is olive.

The legs are bluish-gray.

6″ in length

10″ wingspan

The song of the male is a continuous, variable series of short phrases separated by short pauses. It sounds similar to a robin but is not as loud and is more variable.

Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) has a yellow breast. The gray crown is not bordered with black.

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) dark eye line does not extend forward to the bill. The gray crown is not bordered with black.

Deciduous and mixed woodlands with a dense cover and a shrubby understory

Early May to mid-October

The female builds a cup-shaped nest in the crook of a tree branch. When the nest is completed and lined she lays 3 to 5 eggs. The eggs are white and are spotted at the large end. She incubates the eggs 11 to 14 days. The nest building and incubation are done without the help of the male.

After the eggs hatch both the male and the female feed the nestlings. The young leave the nest in 10 to 12 days.

Insects, especially caterpillars, and berries.

Common to abundant migrant and breeder

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Report a sighting of this bird.

Location: Bemidji, MN

Location: St Louis Co MN