White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
There are four species of vireos possible on Seabrook Island. The White-eyed Vireo may be seen all year round. The others spend either the winter in the area—Blue-headed Vireo or the summer—Red-eyed Vireo and Yellow-throated Vireo. Ebird reports of White-eyed vireo come from many locations on Seabrook Island including the scrub area between boardwalk #1 and #2, the golf courses, and many backyards. Records come from throughout the year. White-eyed Vireos do not come to feeders as their diet consists of primarily insects but need a yard or empty lot with thick understory.
Identification
Generally, unlike the many brightly colored birds, the non-descript vireos attract little attention resulting in them being overlooked. All vireos have marking around the eyes, either eyelines or spectacles. The Blue-headed Vireo and White-eyed Vireo wear the spectacles. The White-eyed Vireo’s wears yellow spectacles. Other distinct characteristics of the White-eyed Vireo include its striking white-iris (brown in immature birds) and the yellow wash on its flanks.
White-eyed Vireo’s song when recognized separates it from all other local species. The song starts with a sharp note, often quoted as chip of quick, proceeds into a short, jumbled phrase before ending with another quick or chip. I’ve heard it referred to as “Quick give me a rain check” or “Quick a beer chick” or Chick burio chick. That beginning and ending sharp note is diagnostic with the middle statements can vary significantly. White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus – Media Search – Macaulay Library and eBird
Feeding and Habitat
White-eyed Vireos like dense scrubby areas especially along the edges of woods. Rarely seen higher than 12 feet above the ground, these birds like it low and dense.
They eat mostly insects with insects consisting of 90% of the White-eyed Vireo’s diet, with a preference for larva of moths and butterflies. They will eat some fruits and seeds, but mostly during seasons where insects are scarce.
Nesting
White-eyed Vireos build their nest within a branch fork between 3 and 10 feet above the ground. Both the male and female work at building the nest, first weaving a cup of spiderwebs and caterpillar silk between the two branches of the Y, pressing it down with their bodies until it dangles below the branches. With the foundation of silk, the female then line the nest with plant material and shapes it to her body by wiggling around and stretching everything to her proportions. The exterior may be decorated with bits of lichen, moss, leaves and other material ostensibly to serve as camouflage. Unfortunately, Brown-headed Cowbirds frequently predate the nests about 50% of the time. The Brown-headed Cowbird may pierce the eggs of the vireo as she lays her eggs. Then the cowbird young hatch first and dominate the nest usurping the lion’s share of the food.
Interesting tidbits
All plants and animals receive a scientific name consisting of genus and species. The genus Vireo translates to “I am green,” a tribute to the greenish hue of many vireos. The species name, griseus, means light gray, an apt description of this light gray bird with a greenish hue. Common names prove more interesting with White-eyed Vireo being the “standardized” common name by the International Ornithologists Union. Prior to that common names were quite confusing. Some of the common names for the White-eyed Vireo included: Green Flycatcher, Musician Vireo, Hanging Flycatcher, Little Green Hangingbird, White-eyed Greenlet, and The Politician. I would love to know why “The Politician.” The others are easy to understand. The vireo eats insects and was confused with the flycatchers, other insect eaters. The reverences to hanging refer to the nesting habits.
What you can do
Adding native vegetation, especially shrubs to your yard may improve the habitat for White-eyed Vireos.
Submitted by Bob Mercer
Sources:
Audubon Bird Guide
Merlin Bird ID
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus – Birds of the World
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus – Media Search – Macaulay Library and eBird
White-eyed Vireo – Species Map – eBird
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