Washington Vireos- Notes from Spring Class 2011
Most Vireos are CBS, some are CAS, most medium distance migrants, the red-eyed group are long distance migrants. One WA vireo is a resident – Hutton’s vireo.
Cassin’s Vireo: 4-10 à 10-1 (general dates) like dry open conifer and open forests, mixed forest on W side, migrate thru a vaiety of habitats, found in local and dispersed areas, uncommon W WA, riparian mixed forest and in black cottonwood or maple on W Wide, E side dry conifer forests. NE Olympic peninsula, San Juans, and Pierce Co. Spectacles. We only have 4 vireos. So first on seeing a vireo see if there are wing bars. 2 with (Hutton’s and Cassin’s) and 2 without (Red-eyed and Warbling) Like all vireos bill has a little hook on the bill, thicker bill than warblers.
Red-eyed Vireo: No wing bars, long distance migrants, dark line thru the eye, white eye stripe, clear breasted, locally fairly common to common breeder in NE WA and E WA, absent Columbia basin, medium elevation, riparian, esp black cottonwoods, in W WA big leaf maple. 5-15 à 10-1, many more on the E side.
Warbling Vireo: no wing bars, weak eye stripe, no black thru the eye, deciduous up to sub alpine, 4-15 à 9-20. Most arrive about May 1st.
Hutton’s vireo: CBS, resident, 2 wing bars, broken eye ring, no black behind the greater coverts, look big headed compared to RC Kinglet, more deliberate, mostly sing in March and April, sing occasionally. 2 noted song, over and over. Like edges up to 1500 feet in WA, deciduous and conifers with mixed forest, absent Olympic Peninsula, only 3 E WA records. Hop deliberately form limb to limb.
White-eyed vireo: One record on Vashon Island
Yellow-throated Vireo: one record.
Blue-headed vireo: 2 records (only split 1998)
Philadelphia Vireo: 2 records.
Bell’s vireo: one record at Skagit fall 2007.
