Plumbeous Vireo

Vireo plumbeus

A migrant that breeds across the interio… Breeds in dry mountain forests and open… Uncommon Slow, Phrased Song

Learn to identify the Plumbeous Vireo by ear. Master the "see-me? wait-up... here-I-am? over-here" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“see-me? wait-up... here-I-am? over-here”

What the Plumbeous Vireo sounds like

A tidy little vireo of the interior West, washed in cool gray with crisp white "spectacles" around the eye. It moves deliberately through pine and juniper branches, pausing to peer, then snapping up insects with a stout bill.

“see-me? wait-up... here-I-am? over-here”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A series of short, rich phrases with little pauses between them. It sounds calm and thoughtful, like the bird is speaking in tiny sentences. Often written as “see-me? wait-up... here-I-am? over-here”.

Don't confuse with:The Cassin's Vireo — usually shows more olive-green on the back.

Where you'll hear it

Breeds in dry mountain forests and open woodlands, especially pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen groves. It often likes edges, openings, and wooded stream corridors.

Best found from spring through summer, when males sing from exposed perches in mountain woodlands. By fall it heads south and becomes much quieter and harder to track.

Similar species

Cassin's Vireo

Usually shows more olive-green on the back.

Blue-headed Vireo

Shows a brighter contrast between blue-gray head and greener back.

Warbling Vireo

Lacks the bold white spectacles and obvious wingbars.

Plumbeous Vireo song FAQ

What does a Plumbeous Vireo sound like?

A series of short, rich phrases with little pauses between them. It sounds calm and thoughtful, like the bird is speaking in tiny sentences. Listen for the "see-me? wait-up... here-I-am? over-here" phrase.

How do I tell a Plumbeous Vireo from a Cassin's Vireo by sound?

Cassin's Vireo: Usually shows more olive-green on the back.; Often has more yellow on the flanks and a softer, less stark face pattern.; Plumbeous looks colder gray and cleaner overall..

When is the best time to hear a Plumbeous Vireo?

Best found from spring through summer, when males sing from exposed perches in mountain woodlands. By fall it heads south and becomes much quieter and harder to track.