White-eyed Vireo

Vireo griseus

White-eyed Vireos breed across the easte… Look for it in dense, low growth: thicke… Fairly Common Sharp, chatty song

Learn to identify the White-eyed Vireo by ear. Master the "Pick-up-a-real-quick! who’s-looking-at-me?" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“Pick-up-a-real-quick! who’s-looking-at-me?”

What the White-eyed Vireo sounds like

A small, snappy songbird with a bright white eye and yellow "spectacles" that seem to glow in the brush. It moves through tangles with quick hops and sharp looks, then bursts out with a loud, cheeky song that feels way too big for its size.

“Pick-up-a-real-quick! who’s-looking-at-me?”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A loud series of short phrases with little pauses between them. It sounds argumentative, energetic, and wonderfully random. Often written as “Pick-up-a-real-quick! who’s-looking-at-me?”.

Don't confuse with:The Bell's Vireo — bell's vireo has a dark eye, not a striking white one.

Lessons featuring the White-eyed Vireo

Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the White-eyed Vireo's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.

Vireo Question Machine

Tier 10 · Going Deeper

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Where you'll hear it

Look for it in dense, low growth: thickets, woodland edges, overgrown fields, swampy shrubs, and brushy roadsides. It likes places where you can barely see through the leaves.

Spring is the noisy season, when males sing almost nonstop from hidden perches. In fall and winter they can go quieter and more secretive, slipping through berry bushes with mixed flocks.

Similar species

Bell's Vireo

Bell's Vireo has a dark eye, not a striking white one.

Philadelphia Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo usually shows a dark eye and a smoother, gentler expression.

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo is larger, calmer-looking, and usually found higher in wooded habitats.

White-eyed Vireo song FAQ

What does a White-eyed Vireo sound like?

A loud series of short phrases with little pauses between them. It sounds argumentative, energetic, and wonderfully random. Listen for the "Pick-up-a-real-quick! who’s-looking-at-me?" phrase.

How do I tell a White-eyed Vireo from a Bell's Vireo by sound?

Bell's Vireo: Bell's Vireo has a dark eye, not a striking white one.; It looks plainer-faced and less boldly yellow around the eye.; Its voice is different too: more even and less snappy..

When is the best time to hear a White-eyed Vireo?

Spring is the noisy season, when males sing almost nonstop from hidden perches. In fall and winter they can go quieter and more secretive, slipping through berry bushes with mixed flocks.