# Red-eyed Vireo (*Vireo olivaceus*) The Red-eyed Vireo is a small bird known for its bright red eyes and cheerful singing. It loves to hop around in trees and can often be found in forests and gardens. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Red-eyed Vireo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vireo_olivaceus_-Madison_-Wisconsin_-USA-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: John Benson from Madison WI, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vireo_olivaceus_-Madison_-Wisconsin_-USA-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Red-eyed Vireo has an olive-green back, white belly, and a distinctive gray cap. Its most striking feature is a prominent red eye, framed by a white stripe above and a dark line through the eye. This small bird's neat plumage makes it look quite tidy. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Vireonidae - **Genus:** Vireo ## Interesting facts - Dedicated parents make over 40 trips an hour to feed their hungry nestlings! - It's a vocal champion, singing over 20,000 songs daily to defend its territory! - Its striking red eyes are a unique feature, giving this bird its common name. - They journey thousands of miles to South America each fall, an epic migration feat! ## Special abilities - **Incredible Stamina:** Red-eyed Vireo has incredible stamina that helps them fly thousands of kilometers between continents each year. - **Persistent Songster:** Red-eyed Vireo can sing almost continuously because its complex song helps them defend territory and attract mates. - **Expert Forager:** Red-eyed Vireo can expertly forage for insects among leaves because its keen eyesight helps them spot tiny prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 23-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.012-0.026 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 7000 km ## Diet & Feeding Tiny insects, caterpillars, and tasty berries make up its main meals. - **Age differences:** Young birds eat mostly insects, while adults add more berries, especially before migration. - **Primary Foods:** caterpillars, moths, beetles, spiders, berries, small fruits - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Hunts vireos and other small birds in woodlands. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Known to raid nests, eating eggs and nestlings. - **Eats:** Eastern Tent Caterpillar (*Malacosoma americanum*) — Consumes many forest insects, helping to control pest populations. - **Parasitizes:** [Brown-headed Cowbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-headed-cowbird) (*Molothrus ater*) — Lays its eggs in vireo nests, tricking them into raising cowbird chicks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-eyed Vireo? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Red-eyed Vireo? 12-14 cm ### What is Red-eyed Vireo's wingspan? 23-25 cm ### How much does Red-eyed Vireo weigh? 0.012-0.026 kg ### How long does Red-eyed Vireo live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Red-eyed Vireo move? 35 km/h ### What does Red-eyed Vireo eat? Tiny insects, caterpillars, and tasty berries make up its main meals. ### Where is Red-eyed Vireo usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Chestnut Ridge Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-ridge-park) — New York, US · Park - [Grist Mill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grist-mill-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Kirk Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kirk-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Mill Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mill-creek-park) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Old Lyme Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-lyme-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Red-eyed Vireo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-eyed-vireo) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Red-eyed Vireo: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-eyed-vireo)