Warbling Vireo Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWarbling Vireo
Adult (Eastern)
A small, stocky songbird with a relatively thick bill and stout, blue-toned legs. The wing is mostly plain, and the face has an “open” look, lacking the strong dark eyeline shown by several similar species.
© Don Danko / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 07, 2020Adult (Eastern)
Often washed pale yellow below, with the brightest color on the flanks. Face contrast is low, with a weak stripe in front of and behind the eye. This makes the dark eye stand out strongly on the face. Though Eastern birds (gilvus) are generally more yellow below than Western (swainsoni), the differences are quite subtle and subspecies ID should rely primarily on song.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 10, 2012Adult (Eastern)
A drab vireo with grayish upperparts, a plain face with a white stripe over the eye, a white throat, and whitish to light yellowish underparts. Its fast, rollicking song—which differs noticeably between Eastern and Western birds, is its most distinctive feature.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 24, 2022Not all videos have sound
Adult (Western)
A stout, plain-winged songbird with sturdy blue-gray legs and a blunt bill. Generally olive-gray above and whitish below with a low-contrast face pattern. Western birds (swainsoni) tend to be drab below with little yellow, but visual differences are slight and subspecies ID should be reinforced with song.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 25, 2019Adult (Western)
The slight yellow wash to the underparts is concentrated along the flanks instead of the center of the breast or throat, which helps to distinguish this species from Philadelphia Vireo . Visual differences between populations are slight, but this bird shows a darker gray crown typical of the Western subspecies group (swainsoni).
© John F. Gatchet / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 07, 2017Adult (Western)
Forages by moving slowly through small branches, looking around carefully for insects. Note fairly thick bill and dark line through eye that fades out before it meets the bill.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 01, 2005Not all videos have sound
Adult (Western)
The large head, relatively short tail, and stout bill with a hooked tip identify this as a vireo. This species has plain wings and a low-contrast face with bold dark eye. Western birds (swainsoni) show relatively dark gray crowns and olive green backs.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, August 15, 2017Adult (Western)
A stout, short-tailed songbird with a thick bill and plain wings. When viewed from the side, these vireos can appear fairly yellow on the flanks; however, note the white throat. The bold dark eye stands out on the relatively dull, low contrast face.
© Rachel Hudson / Macaulay LibraryWashington, September 14, 2019Habitat
Breeding birds strongly prefer deciduous woodland near water; on migration the species uses nearly any vegetated habitat.
© Iain Rayner / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 21, 2017Similar SpeciesRed-eyed Vireo
Adult
Red-eyed Vireos are larger than Warbling Vireos with a stronger face pattern in which the white eyebrow stripe is bordered above and below by black lines.
© Jim Hully / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, September 02, 2016Similar SpeciesPhiladelphia Vireo
Adult
Philadelphia Vireos are often extensively yellow below (although some show little to no yellow). Look for Philadelphia's dark line through the eye all the way to the bill; in Warbling Vireo the area next to the bill is pale.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 22, 2011Similar SpeciesTennessee Warbler
Breeding male
Tennessee Warblers are daintier, move more quickly, and have thinner, sharper bills than Warbling Vireos. Breeding males usually have contrasting gray heads and olive-green backs.
© Maurice Raymond / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 27, 2017Similar SpeciesBell's Vireo
Adult (Arizona)
Bell's Vireos are grayer (or, in eastern North America, greener) than Warbling Vireos. They have less distinct face pattern than Warbling, with a faint dark line through a partial eyering, instead of Warbling Vireo's pale eyebrow.
© Jim Hully / Macaulay LibraryArizona, April 26, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Vireonidae)
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