Blue-headed Vireo

(Vireo solitarius)

Conservation Status
Blue-headed Vireo
Photo by Laurie Wachholz
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

The head is bluish-gray, the upper parts olive green, the flanks yellow, and the throat and underparts white. The wings and tail feathers have dark gray, yellow, and white pinstripes. The wings have two bold white or yellowish wing bars. The eyes are dark and are outlined with bold white rings. A bold white stripe extends from each eye to the bill. The eye rings and stripes together form characteristic white “spectacles” that aid in identifying this species.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

5 to 5 in length

7 to 9½ wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Remote, cool, coniferous and mixed forests, pine plantations

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

May and late August to October

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Mostly insects but also fruit

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon to occasional migrant; uncommon breeder

Over the last 40 years, the population of Blue-headed Vireo has been increasing at a rate of 58.1% per decade.

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Vireonidae (greenlets, vireos)  
 

Genus

Vireo (vireos)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius alticola)

Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius solitarius)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Laurie Wachholz

 
    Blue-headed Vireo      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 

 

     
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Blue Headed Vireo
k chamberlin
 
   
 
About

Published on Oct 8, 2014

Ashland, NH Oct. 8th 2014

   
  Blue-headed Vireo, Mississauga, Ontario by Lucio Fazio fall 2014
PeregrineFalcon1918
 
   
 
About

Published on Oct 7, 2014

Blue-headed Vireos, with its bold spectacles, wing bars and blue-gray head on a green back is a an attractive early spring & fall migrant in Mississauga, Ontario. At The Riverwood Conservancy its 'solitary' habits betrays its common occurrence. Calls/songs were added to the video.

   
  Blue-headed Vireo
Scott Ramos
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 21, 2012

Bird was actively feeding, catching all variety of insects

   
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

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Created: 2/12/2019

Last Updated:

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