How long do warbling vireos live?
The oldest Warbling Vireo on record lived to 13.1 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild warbling vireos live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 13.1 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 10 months
- Eggs per clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 4.3–5.5 in, 0.4–0.6 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 3
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Warbling Vireo can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Warbling vireos usually start breeding at about 10 months old. Each season a pair lays 3–5 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 12–14 days to hatch.
How warbling vireos compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other vireos on this site.
- White-eyed Vireo10.9 years
- Red-eyed Vireo10.2 years
More about warbling vireos
Frequently asked
How long do warbling vireos live?
The longest-lived Warbling Vireo on record reached 13.1 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild warbling vireos live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Warbling Vireo when it first breeds?
Usually about 10 months old.
What is the oldest Warbling Vireo ever recorded?
13.1 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Warbling Vireo raise in a year?
Pairs lay 3–5 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "small". genomics.senescence.info