ExploreBirds

Bell's Vireo

Vireo bellii

Bell's Vireo is a small, cheerful bird that loves to sing! It has a soft yellow belly and olive-green back, making it blend in with the leaves. You can often find it flitting around in bushes and trees.

Habitat: Shrublands

Appearance

The Bell's Vireo is a small, plain songbird with dull olive-gray feathers on its back and a whitish belly. It has faint, pale wing bars and a delicate, often broken, white eye-ring, giving it a subtle 'spectacled' look. Its slightly hooked bill is slender and dark.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyVireonidaeGenusVireo
Bell's Vireo
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgesinging trait badgeinsectivorous trait badge
Bell's Vireo

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

4

Interesting facts

Bell's Vireos sometimes unknowingly raise bigger, unrelated cowbird chicks!

Some Bell's Vireos fly over 1,000 miles to find warmer winter homes!

Their tricky song often changes, making it one of the hardest bird calls to learn!

They act like tiny pest controllers, munching on hundreds of garden insects!

Special abilities

Ability

Master Vocalist

Bell's Vireo can sing a complex, scratchy two-part song, changing its pattern, that helps them claim territory and find a mate.

Ability

Stealthy Forager

Bell's Vireo has agile movements that help them glean insects directly from dense leaves and twigs, finding hidden prey.

Ability

Expert Weaver

Bell's Vireo can expertly weave a small, deep cup-shaped nest suspended in a shrub fork, keeping their eggs and chicks safe.

Measurements & details

Length
11.5-12.5 cm
Wingspan
16-18 cm
Weight
0.008-0.01 kg
Lifespan
3-5 years
Top Speed
35 km/h
Clutch Size
3-5
Incubation
12-14 days
Migration Distance
2000 km

Diet & Feeding

These tiny birds mostly feast on juicy insects they pluck from leaves and branches!

Primary Foods

  • Caterpillars
  • Beetles
  • Grasshoppers
  • Spiders
  • Small berries

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

Lays eggs in the vireo's nest.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

A powerful night hunter.

shelters

Scrub Oak

Quercus berberidifolia

Provides dense nesting spots.

shelters

Sandbar Willow

Salix exigua

Common in riparian habitats.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't disturb their nests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Bell's Vireo?

The easiest way to identify Bell's Vireo is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Bell's Vireo?

11.5-12.5 cm

What is Bell's Vireo's wingspan?

16-18 cm

How much does Bell's Vireo weigh?

0.008-0.01 kg

How long does Bell's Vireo live?

3-5 years

How fast can Bell's Vireo move?

35 km/h

What does Bell's Vireo eat?

These tiny birds mostly feast on juicy insects they pluck from leaves and branches!

Where is Bell's Vireo usually found?

Shrublands

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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