Eastern Warbling Vireo Similar Species Comparison

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.

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.

Adult

A medium-sized 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 is its most distinctive feature and the best way to distinguish it from Western Warbling Vireo.

The slight yellow wash to the underparts is concentrated along the flanks instead of the center of the breast or throat, helping to distinguish this species from Philadelphia Vireo.

Eastern Warbling Vireos forage sluggishly, intently peering at leaf surfaces from a single perch before pouncing or moving on.

Eastern Warbling Vireos spend most of their time in the tops of tall trees like cottonwoods, poplars, and sycamores.

Breeding birds strongly prefer deciduous woodland near water.