Family: Vireonidae, Vireos view all from this family

Description 5-6" (13-15 cm). Sparrow-sized. Similar to Red-eyed Vireo: olive-green above, whitish below, with no wing bars-but lacks bold face pattern, having only a narrow white eyebrow. The Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) is also similar, but has yellow tinge to underparts and dark spot between eye and base of bill.

Habitat Deciduous woodlands, especially near streams; in isolated groves and shade trees.

Nesting 3 or 4 brown-spotted white eggs in a well-made pendant cup of bark strips and plant down fastened to a forked twig, usually near the top of a tall tree.

Range Breeds from British Columbia, southern Mackenzie, Manitoba, and New Brunswick south to northern Mexico, Louisiana, and Virginia. Winters in tropics.

Voice   Drowsy, rambling warble, like song of Purple Finch but slower; ends on rising note.

Discussion The best place to look for this modestly plumaged vireo is in a grove of tall shade trees on the bank of a stream. Here, in the breeding season, one may hear its rambling song and, after a careful search, spot it moving deliberately through the foliage in pursuit of insects. Although still common in many areas, the Warbling Vireo has decreased considerably because of extensive spraying of pesticides on shade trees.