Watercolor portrait of Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

What does the Red-eyed Vireo song sound like?

Vireo olivaceus
Song Common

Play the real Red-eyed Vireo song, the "Here I am... where are you?", and learn what to listen for.

“Here I am... where are you?”

What the Red-eyed Vireo song sounds like

A series of short, melodious phrases often described as a robin-like song broken into pieces. The vireo sings incessant phrases that sound like it's asking and answering questions: e.g., "See me? Here I am! Up here. See me?" Each phrase is 2-3 notes long, slurred or whistled, separated by pauses. The tone is sweet but slightly nasal or raspy. Males repeat variations of a few phrase types over and over, often all day long in summer.

“Here I am... where are you?”

Birders often file this one under Question-and-answer song.

How to find the bird singing it

Deciduous and mixed forests. They prefer large tracts of mature broadleaf forest, but also utilize smaller woodlots, parks, and suburban areas with ample trees during migration. They are very common in eastern hardwood forests (oak, maple, etc.), and also found in aspen or mixed woods in the north. During migration, they will stop in almost any habitat with trees, including urban trees. In winter, they reside in the Amazon Basin's forests (South America) and are rarely encountered in North America outside of breeding season.

  • Olive and white with striped face: Olive-green above, white below. Distinct head pattern: gray crown edged by blackish border lines, a white eyebrow stripe (supercilium) over a red eye, and a dark line through the eye. The eye appears red (in adults) if seen well. The bill is relatively long and slight hook-tipped. No wing bars or bold plumage patterns on the body. Often the easiest identification feature is behavior: a slow-moving greenish bird high in trees incessantly singing. The combination of the subtle olive color, white underparts, and the sharp facial contrast (white eyebrow, dark eyeline) distinguishes it from warblers or other vireos. Philadelphia Vireos are similar but more yellow below and lack the bright red eye.

When you'll hear it

Summer

Breeds throughout much of the eastern and central US and southern Canada where forests are present. Common in the Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast uplands, as well as parts of the Plains (in river woods) and the Pacific Northwest (some breeding populations in western Canada's forests). In summer, essentially any extensive deciduous or mixed forest in the East is likely to have Red-eyed Vireos singing.

Winter

Winters in South America, mainly the Amazon Basin (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia). Not present in North America during winter months. In winter quarters, found in lowland tropical rainforest and edges, often high in the canopy.

Migration

Migrates through the eastern half of the US (and parts of the Southwest in fall) typically from late April to June (northbound) and August to October (southbound). Many cross the Gulf of Mexico on their journey. During migration they may be found in smaller woodlots, urban trees, and even shrubby habitats. The Great Lakes and Ohio/Tennessee valleys see heavy passage in fall. Absent from North America after mid-fall.

Red-eyed Vireo song FAQ

What does a Red-eyed Vireo song sound like?
A series of short, melodious phrases often described as a robin-like song broken into pieces. The vireo sings incessant phrases that sound like it's asking and answering questions: e.g., "See me? Here I am! Up here. See me?" Each phrase is 2-3 notes long, slurred or whistled, separated by pauses. The tone is sweet but slightly nasal or raspy. Males repeat variations of a few phrase types over and over, often all day long in summer. Birders write it as "Here I am... where are you?".
How do I tell a Red-eyed Vireo from a Philadelphia Vireo by ear?
Philadelphia Vireo: Smaller and more yellow overall (often has a yellow wash on the throat and breast).; Philadelphia Vireo also lacks the red eye (dark eye) and the contrast between the white eyebrow and crown is less pronounced (crown tends to be brownish-olive)..
When is the best time to hear the Red-eyed Vireo song?
Arrives on breeding grounds in late April or May. Males begin incessant singing almost immediately to establish territories. Nesting occurs from late May through July; they build cup nests suspended from forked twigs in mid-upper canopy. They continue singing all summer long, often even in the heat of midday when other birds go quiet. By August, singing wanes and they start fattening up on berries for migration. Fall migration peaks in August and September; they travel mostly via long flights at night to South America. During winter (Northern Hemisphere winter), they live in Amazonian South America, in rainforest and second-growth, remaining quiet or giving only occasional calls. In spring, they make a long return journey (often via Central America and across the Gulf of Mexico) to arrive by late April/early May back in North America.

More Red-eyed Vireo sounds

Red-eyed Vireo: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?