The Blue-headed Vireo is a member of the
Passeriformes. The name Blue-headed Vireo once applied
to one subspecies in the Solitary Vireo, was recently
split into three different species, the Blue-headed, Plumbeous, and Cassin’s Vireo. The Blue-headed Vireo is
a medium size vireo; the adult plumage is a bluish to
gray head with a white eye-ring. The wings have two
white bars. The Blue-headed Vireo has a white belly and
yellowish flanks. It’s length is 13.97cm (5.5 inches)
and its wingspan is 24.13cm (9.5 inches). The
Blue-headed Vireo weighs about 16g (.56oz).
HABITAT/DIET
The Blue-headed Vireo is spread across Canada and
the Eastern United States. They occupy both
coniferous forests and deciduous forests. They may
be found anywhere with trees that are middle-aged to
mature and a high percent of canopy closure and with
bushes and saplings under the trees. The Blue-headed
Vireo migrates to the southern United States and
into subtropical and tropical forests during the
winter months. The Blue-headed Vireo eats medium to
large insects, some spiders, once in a while they
will also eat snails and larvae from leaves. In the
winter they may eat fruit.
BEHAVIOR
Pairing is rapid and will include a precopulatory
displays and nest-building displays where the birds will stand with
a lowered head, moving their body and beak in movements that
resemble nest-building. This continues until the female indicates
acceptance. They are monogamous and the male chooses and protects a
territory and possibly one other. A Blue-headed Vireos nest is a
rounded cup hanging from a branch; it is made of spider webs,
grasses, bark strips, dead leaves, hair, and moss. The Blue-headed
Vireo will decorate it with birch bark and spider egg cases. The
inner lining includes rootlets, conifer twigs and grass. They lay
3-5 eggs per brood.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
This bird is found in mature forests during the
summer and are found during this time in areas in southern Western
New York like
Allegany State Park. They also may be found in large
numbers during the spring and fall migration as birds travel through
the area.