Tag Archives: White-eyed Vireo

Songbirds

White-eyed Vireo Building A Nest

4 Comments

I happened upon a pair of White-eyed Vireos today that were working diligently on their nest. It would be fascinating to know how long it took them to get this far. (All About Birds says it takes 3-5 days to complete.)

White-eyed Vireo Building Nest
White-eyed Vireo Building Nest

They brought all sorts of little bits and took turns working them down into the bowl of the nest.

White-eyed Vireo Building Nest
White-eyed Vireo Building Nest

One of them got right down in there, presumably smoothing out the interior.

White-eyed Vireo Building Nest
White-eyed Vireo Building Nest

A lot of the pieces looked like shredded leaf or lichen.

White-eyed Vireo Building Nest
White-eyed Vireo Building Nest

They were flying into the woods and on most trips landed in this nearby tree…

White-eyed Vireo Building Nest
White-eyed Vireo Building Nest

before zipping to the nest.

White-eyed Vireo Building Nest
White-eyed Vireo Building Nest

March 21, 2023

I saw a White-eyed Vireo nest one other time, in June 2020. You can see that post at White-eyed Vireo on Nest

Songbirds

Vireo Nest, Empty

6 Comments

I’ve checked back on the White-eyed Vireo nest from my June 15th post a few times, and about a week later got a similar image, without the rain.

White-eyed Vireo on Nest
White-eyed Vireo on Nest, June 18

Two weeks later, the nest was empty. Could chicks have hatched and fledged in that short time? All About Birds says their nestling period is 9 – 11 days, so yes it is possible.

Vireo Nest, Now Empty
Vireo Nest, Now Empty

Once I was sure there were no birds in the nest I got closer for a side view. Although a bit shabby looking at the bottom, what an engineering marvel this nest was.

Vireo Nest, Now Empty
Vireo Nest, Now Empty, July 3

Also from All About Birds:

Males and females build a pendulous nest suspended from a Y-shaped fork. They collect insect silk and spiderweb and attach it to the fork until it makes a lacy shell. They then stick leaves, bark, plant fibers, rootlets, and bits of paper to the spiderweb shell. They also stick lichens, moss, or leaves to the outside for additional camouflage. The female lines the nest with rootlets, fine grass, or hair. It takes the pair around 3–5 days to complete the nest.

Songbirds

White-eyed Vireo with Worm

5 Comments

White-eyed Vireos are a fast, elusive song bird.

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo

This one was intent on food. He picked a worm off a leaf and flew down to an open branch to eat it.

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo

But first he beat it a few times.

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo

I’ve seen song birds gather a stack of worms or insects  in their beak and thought he might be rendering this one ready for a flight to a nest.

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo

No, this one was for him.

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo

One gulp and it was gone.

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Songbirds

White-eyed Vireo

8 Comments

White-eyed Vireos are small {0.3-0.5 oz (10-14 g)} song birds that are usually difficult to spot due to their preferred habitat of thickets and scrubby trees. I could hear this one singing just in front of me on a narrow path and was surprised to see him on an open branch.

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo

And when he flew I could still see him!

White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo

Although White-eyed Vireo was my first thought, I used the Merlin Bird ID app to verify the ID.