I had one of those bird lovers’ unforgettable experiences in September. I was wandering in a secluded area of our farm enjoying myself. Now, I believe, that just about everyone beyond a “certain age” notices a decline in their eyesight. This is challenging with birding. However this newcomer to my “life list” was within feet of me.
ID: Described as handsome and distinctively patterned. Stocky body and slow moving bird; white spectacles; large, slate-greyish, helmeted head; two white wing bars; olive upperparts; white under parts and throat; dull yellow sides and flanks; dark wings and tail with yellow highlights; stout bill; feet and legs charcoal. I immediately saw the spectacles and remembered from studying bird books this was an easy ID for vireos. In a flash of time the sides caught my attention. It hopped onto another branch and that was the end of my good position. Eyes are excellent field marks being the boldest eye rings of our songbirds.
During courtship males fluff out their flanks and bob. It is extra- ordinarily tame and seems to ignore humans near its nest, extreme allowing itself to be touched while incubating eggs.
Size: 13-15cm / 5½’’ or sparrow-sized. Habitat: coniferous and mixed forests. In our case, that was spruce and mixed undergrowth. Usually found high in canopy, however during migration it is more conspicuous. Pine trees and sandy soil appear to be favoured.
Status: A Neo-tropical migrating song bird from N and C America and Mexico. Fairly common in May (first arrival) and fall. Breeding is farther north than our area. Feeding: gleans branches for insects, may hover or hawk. It has a habit of cocking its head to one side while searching for insects, including spiders and some fruit. Nesting: built on horizontal fork in coniferous tree or tall shrub using grass, roots, down, spider webs and cocoons. Brown-headed Cowbirds may parasite the nest. Voice: chu-wee; toowip; cheerio; teeyay by male is robin-like, slow and musical. Call is churr. Liquid notes flow in wooded areas, but very quiet after mating and eggs are laid. However after hatching they become bold, making harsh, scolding chatter. This bird is seen first much more frequently than seen. Conservation: Loss of habitat to agriculture has driven the Blue-headed Vireo northward. Least concern and population is increasing.
Resource: Birds of Ontario, DK, Lorimer, Stokes, Audubon, Alberta Guides, Encyclopedia of Life.
Submitted by Susan Warren