Warbling Vireo
Learn to identify the Warbling Vireo by ear. Master the "If I see you I will seize you and I'll squeeze you till you squeal!" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Warbling Vireo sounds like
A lively, flowing warble that rolls through short whistles and finishes with a clear upward flourish. This clip is an Eastern Warbling Vireo from Iowa; Western songs generally sound choppier and burrier and are less likely to end on that strong rise.
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the Warbling Vireo
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Warbling Vireo's sounds in these interactive in-app lessons.
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Where you'll hear it
Breeds from southern Alaska and Canada south through most of the U.S.; winters from western Mexico through Central America to northern Panama.
Breeds in open woodlands, riverbottom cottonwoods, parks, and suburban shade trees. Prefers tall deciduous trees with moderate understory.
Long-distance migrant. Arrives on breeding grounds April–May, departs August–September. On wintering grounds October–March.
How to recognize it by sight
A plain little vireo with a rich, flowing voice. Eastern and Western Warbling Vireos both work through leafy canopies, where their lively songs often reveal them before their soft gray-and-olive plumage does.
Similar species
Philadelphia Vireo
Philadelphia shows brighter yellow underparts overall
Red-eyed Vireo
Prominent white eyebrow and dark crown stripes
Tennessee Warbler
Warbler lacks hook-tipped bill