White-Eyed Vireo

Vireo griseus

In summer, these birds range north to southern New England and west to Iowa, but retreat south in winter to the southeast USA and the gulf coast of Mexico. Both males and females sing in winter, but the summer singers are male.

Science recognises six subspecies of White-Eyed Vireo, and divides these into two groups:

  • Veracruz Group:
    • V. g. perquisitor which lives in Mexico in the regions of Puebla and Veracruz.
  • White-Eyed Group:
    • V. g. noveboracensis breeds in the eastern USA and winters in southern Mexico and Central America.
    • V. g. griseus breeds in the southeastern states in the USA and winters in southern Mexico and Central America.
    • V. g. maynardi is resident in south Florida.
    • V. g. bermudianus is resident in Bermuda.
    • V. g. micrus is resident in south Texas and northeast Mexico.

I met my first White-Eyed Vireo in the spring of 2020 while on my first trip to Texas. The singing of loud songs from dense thickets attracted my attention, but the singer remained mostly out of my view, frustrating my attempts to capture a photograph. I eventually learned this behavior is typical for the species. In 2021 and again in 2022, while enjoying my second and third expeditions to Texas, I found more of these birds, and some were just a little more cooperative.

Range Map for White-Eyed Vireo
Range Map

29 Photos

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