Vireo bellii
adult
Bell’s Vireo is a compact songbird that is rather warbler-like in its general appearance. Overall, western birds are paler and grayer than their eastern counterparts. Given this regional variation, however, the sexes are similar. Adults have overall greenish or greenish-gray upperparts, and pale underparts suffused with buffish yellow. The wings are subtly darker than the rest of the body, with a distinct pale wingbar and a more subtle one above it. The dark eye is emphasized by an incomplete white surround that extends forwards as a pale line to the base of the bill. Juveniles are similar to adults.
Bell’s Vireo is present as a breeding species across the Midwest and southernmost southwest U.S.A. mainly from April to August. It spends the rest of the year in Mexico. The species is rather secretive and its presence is usually detected first by hearing its distinctive song. It feeds by foraging for insects and other invertebrates in dense foliage in a deliberate manner.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 4.75 in (12 cm)
FOOD Insects and other invertebrates
HABITAT Dense riverside scrub and woodland
STATUS Local and rather scarce summer visitor
VOICE Song is a rapid, chattering chew-dlee, chew-dler. Call is a thin chee
