Perch Supply
Vireos (Vireonidae)

Red-eyed Vireo

Vireo olivaceus. Caterpillars and other insects; fruit in late summer.

Vireos (Vireonidae)Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
Scientific name
Vireo olivaceus
Length
4.7–5.1 in
Weight
0.4–0.9 oz
Nest
Hanging cup slung in a horizontal branch fork
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
3–5 eggs
Incubation
11–15 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Olive above, clean white below
  • Grey crown with black-edged white eyebrow
  • Red eye in adults

Voice

Endless short, robin-like phrases, sung all day.

Diet and feeding

Caterpillars and other insects; fruit in late summer.

What do red-eyed vireos eat? · Best feeder for red-eyed vireos

Red-eyed Vireos by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
AlbertaSummer breederJune–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
British ColumbiaSummer breederJune–July
ColoradoSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IdahoSummer breederMay–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
MontanaSummer breederJune–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
NevadaSummer breederMay–July
New BrunswickSummer breederJune–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederJune–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
Northwest TerritoriesSummer breederJune–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederJune–July
QuebecSummer breederJune–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederJune–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
UtahSummer breederMay–July
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July
WyomingSummer breederJune–July
YukonSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do red-eyed vireos eat?

Caterpillars and other insects; fruit in late summer. At feeders: none — mature deciduous trees are the draw.

How big is a Red-eyed Vireo?

4.7–5.1 in long and 0.4–0.9 oz.

Do red-eyed vireos use birdhouses?

No. Hanging cup slung in a horizontal branch fork.

Sources

  1. Red-eyed Vireo — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Red-eyed Vireo life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Red-eyed Vireo — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.