See all posts in the Birds of Carver County series
Vireo solitarius, the blue-headed vireo is part of the spring and fall migration event that sweeps up and down our state each year.
About five to six inches long, it has a distinctive blue-gray head, dramatic white “spectacles,” a white throat, olive-green grayish back and wings with two white bars. Bright yellow flanks may catch your attention as it continually feeds in the branches overhead. Its insect-catching beak is thick and stubby with a small hook on the end. Males and females look the same, and their colors don’t change much during their nesting period.
Look for it in mid-May and mid-September, on its way to and from summer nesting locations in northern Minnesota and forests of Canada. In winter, non-breeding birds are found in the southeastern United States and in Mexico and Central America.
The blue-headed vireo is “solitary” in its name and in its behavior. During migration it might be seen with groups of warblers and kinglets, but not other vireos. In older bird guides, this species might be listed as the solitary vireo, grouped with similar-plumaged Cassin’s Vireo and ilumbeous Vireo. Its other cousin is the yellow-throated vireo.
Vireos feed on larvae and adult insects in broadleaf and coniferous trees. While searching for food it moves almost continuously, 10 to 20 times per minute, but this is slower than some warblers and kinglets. After they have consumed prey, vireos will wipe their bill on their perch.
/
The male might be singing while in transit through Carver County. It will learn its repertoire while growing up and then announce its presence with discrete phrases separated by short pauses about every two seconds. Their style of singing is similar to red-eyed vireos and yellow-throated vireos, which are also seen here.
Although they don’t nest locally, the nesting site is chosen by the male. He continues building it until accepted by a mate and will share incubation duties with the female. The female will chase other males and females away from the nest area but will leave after the young have fledged (grown feathers and are able to leave the nest). Males will continue to feed fledged young until they have learned to be independent.
Population studies indicate that the blue-headed vireo is doing well and is not visibly affected by changes that have been introduced by humans. Blue-headed vireos sing with clear, musical song notes. They are relatively easy to spot, despite continual movement among the leaves of spring and autumn. Its appearance has been described as aristocratic. In its scientific name it may be called solitary, but we should be grateful that the blue-headed vireo allows us to observe it for a few weeks each year.
For more information:
- The Sibley Guide to Birds, David Allen Sibley
- Birds of Minnesota, Robert B. Janssen
- Breeding Birds of Minnesota, Pfannmuller, Niemi and Green
- The Audubon Society’s Encyclopedia of North American Birds, John K. Terres
- Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Online: All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology LINK
- Online: Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas
