Copyright ©2021 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Continuing on with the newest “lifers” that I’ve picked up this year I present Lifer N° 2 for 2021…the Warbling Vireo.
I confess I would have missed this bird had I not been out with a local birding group. The leader for that day’s outing recognized its song, and I started peering into the foliage and spotted something flitting around. Hoping for it come out in the open for peek I waited, and waited. Finally a brief look!!
Then just as quickly it flew to another bush behind a branch and began singing its morning song.
These are the only decent images I was able to get of it, but I’m happy to have them!
They have a large range in the United States, but breed here in the Summer months.
Since this little one is singing in the last image I thought I’d try to add a sound file so you can hear one of its songs. Nuts! The link didn’t embed the sound file.
Clicking the link will open a new window with the recording of the Western Warbling Vireo
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/110999
Fun Facts: Gleaned from allaboutbirds.org
- Warbling Vireos have a good name—the males sing a fast, up-and-down, rollicking song that suits the word “warbling.” The early twentieth century ornithologist William Dawson described the song this way: “fresh as apples and as sweet as apple blossoms comes that dear, homely song from the willows.” The highly variable song usually ends on a high note, leading the birder Pete Dunne to describe it as sounding “like a happy drunk making a conversational point at a party.”
- Across their wide range, Warbling Vireos differ from one population to another in several characteristics, including overall size, bill shape, plumage coloring, molt patterns, wintering areas, and vocalizations. The differences are significant enough to lead ornithologists to recognize six separate subspecies of Warbling Vireo, and at one time divided them into two species.
- Brown-headed Cowbirds frequently deposit their own eggs in the nests of Warbling Vireos. In some instances, the vireo pair incubates the alien egg and raises the young cowbird until it fledges. Female vireos in some eastern populations, however, tend to puncture and eject interlopers’ eggs.
- Researchers speculate that Warbling Vireo song is at least partially learned rather than hard-wired. They base this supposition in part on observations of one individual whose song more closely resembled that of a Red-eyed Vireo than that of its parents. The garbled song, they concluded, probably resulted from a flawed learning process during the bird’s development.
- The longest-lived Warbling Vireo on record—a male that was originally banded in July 1966—was at least 13 years, 1 month old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California.
I hope you enjoyed seeing these Warbling Vireo images today, and I hope your Friday is going well, and you have a lovely week-end and I wish an early Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s in the US!
Fuji X-T3| Fuji 100-400mm| PS CC 22.4.2
more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
What a cute little songbird and lovely song. I’ll listen for it when I’m out in the forest. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Denise! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. I hope you hear and see the Vireo! 😀
Aaah, even my typing is an adjustment: a nice weekend I meant! Jeshie2
A nive feature of living back in the suburbs is that I hear more birds! Also after midnight:) Enjoy your weekend! Jesh
Always great to photograph a new bird and an attractive and interesting one at that 😊. Nice photos, Deborah!
Thank you so much, Belinda! It was exciting to see it and get a photo too. 😀
I looked up the origin of vireo and found in the American Heritage Dictionary that it’s from Latin vireō, which was a kind of bird, from the verb virēre that meant ‘to be green.’ I guess the sort of vireo the Romans saw was green.
That would be a cool Vireo to see!
Woohoo, Deborah, congratulations!! I’ve not seen this warbler and would surely miss it myself. Well done!!
Thank you so much, Donna!
Beautiful. I can imaging the birdsong. Hugs on the wing.
Thank you so much, Teagan! Hugs back atcha! 😀
I love the bird singing photo. What a treat to see and also hear!
Thank you so much, Jennie!
You’re welcome, Deborah!
Great captures. The bird was well camouflaged.
A “lifer” must be a goosebump moment, Deborah. I am in awe of someone who can recognize a bird song. I did listen to the sound file. A great add-on here! Now if my husband walks in on me, he will think I am a bit of a bird brain.🙂 Great how you managed to get the images. It is Father’s Day here too on Sunday. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Thank you so much, Erica! I had no idea it was father’s day in the UK and Canada too!! I learn something new every time I’m here! I hope you had a lovely Father’s Day week-end too!
It is very exciting to see a new bird. Your bird brain has lots of great company. 😀
Always a an exciting thrill to see and hear a lifer Deborah, and thanks for sharing the interesting info on this bird and sound file. Love the interesting depictions of its call also 🙂
Thank you so much, Ashley! I’m glad you enjoyed the sound file!
How wonderful to find a new bird. He’s cute and lively and I love that description. I play the sound file. It is a happy tune.
I am glad you liked the sound file, Dan. I’m always exciting to see a new bird.
I hope you have a nice Father’s Day weekend.
Life seems to be getting back to a near normal for you, and I’m sure that is a wonderful thing. 🙂
The groups are limited to a maximum of 6 people and the leader still, but I like smaller groups. It’s getting back to normal here. Still some are wearing masks but, I am ok with that.
I am seeing my Grandsons this weekend so I am very happy.😄
Happy family weekend! I know there will be plenty of smiling and laughing.
Thank you! It’s been a lot of fun and it continues! We have #1 here for a week. I hope your week is starting off well in the garden. 😀
Thank you for the descriptions of the bird songs and recordings. Your photos were terrific.
Thank you so much, John!!
Who wouldn’t love a bird that was described as being “like a happy drunk making a conversational point at a party”? Great capture.
LOL! I know right! I loved that description as well.
Thank you so much, Ally! 😀