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Home/Species/ Eastern Warbling-Vireo

Vireo gilvus

(Vieillot, 1808)

Eastern Warbling-Vireo

G5Secure Found in 250 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1368060
Element CodeABPBW01310
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyVireonidae
GenusVireo
Concept Reference
American Ornithological Society (AOS). Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. Sixty-sixth Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds. Ornithology 142:1-19.
Taxonomic Comments
Vireo swainsoni was formerly (AOU 1983, 1998) considered conspecific with V. gilvus, but separated based on concordant differences in a suite of traits, including genetics (Slager et al. 2014, Lovell et al. 2021, Carpenter et al. 2022a, b), morphology (Lovell 2010), song (Lovell 2010, Spencer 2012), molt and migration (Voelker and Rohwer 1998), and response to brood parasitism (Sealy et al. 2000). The two species show low levels of hybridization and cytonuclear discordance across a large area, even where males of the two taxa occupy adjacent territories (Lovell et al. 2021) (AOS 2025).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-08
Change Date2025-10-08
Edition Date2025-10-08
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
This species is abundant and widespread across the eastern U.S. and Canada during the breeding season and widespread in México and Central America during the nonbreeding season. No major threats have been identified at this time.
Range Extent Comments
The breeding range extends from central Alberta, central Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, western and southern Ontario, extreme southwestern Quebec, Maine, New Brunswick, and southern Nova Scotia (probably) south to southeastern Texas (casually), southern Louisiana (formerly), central Mississippi, northern Alabama, southeastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, central South Carolina, and Virginia, and west to southeastern Montana, northern and eastern North Dakota, eastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, Kansas, and southeastern Colorado (AOS 2025).

Winters from Oaxaca (rarely) and Chiapas south through Guatemala to El Salvador, rarely to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Accidental in Bermuda (late December) (AOS 2025).

Migrates regularly through the south-central United States and eastern Mexico, rarely (or casually) through the southeastern states east to southern Florida and Bermuda. Casual in Nova Scotia (Seal Island), Newfoundland (Great Codroy), and western Cuba. Accidental in California. Casual in winter in southern Florida, although the species identification (V. gilvus vs. V. swainsoni) of these birds has not been confirmed (AOS 2025).
Occurrences Comments
There are many occurrences throughout the range.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known at this time.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Open deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous woodland, riparian forest and thickets, pine-oak association, orchards, and parks; in migration and winter in a wide variety of forest, woodland and scrub habitats (AOU 1983). In winter seems to prefer light woodland and savanna groves (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Usually nests at end of branch in a deciduous tree, 9-18 m above ground, or 1-3.5 m above ground, in shrub or orchard tree (Terres 1980).

Ecology

Density figures of 13.4 birds/40 ha have been recorded in flatland aspen; 60.0/40 ha in scrub-meadow; 5 pairs/40 ha in Douglas fir forest (Bureau of Land Management, no date). Nests often parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds, suffering up to 80% parasitism in some areas; this high rate, combined with the fact that parasitized nests typically produce no vireo young, can create sink populations, even in areas where vireos are common (Ward and Smith 2000).

Reproduction

Male and female, in turn, incubate 4, sometimes 3-5, eggs for about 12 days. Altricial young are tended by both parents, leave the nest in about 12-14 days.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedSavannaSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5B
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS5BYes
New BrunswickS3BYes
Nova ScotiaS1B,SUMYes
SaskatchewanS5BYes
QuebecS5BYes
ManitobaS5BYes
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
NebraskaS5Yes
TexasS3BYes
PennsylvaniaS5BYes
MinnesotaSNRBYes
MissouriSNRBYes
OhioS5Yes
North DakotaSNRBYes
AlabamaS1BYes
GeorgiaSNRNYes
MississippiS1BYes
ConnecticutS5BYes
MontanaS5BYes
North CarolinaS2BYes
District of ColumbiaS1B,S1NYes
New JerseyS4B,S4NYes
IllinoisS5Yes
South DakotaS5BYes
West VirginiaS4BYes
New YorkS5BYes
MarylandS4BYes
VirginiaS4Yes
LouisianaS1BYes
ArkansasS4B,S4NYes
KansasS5BYes
MichiganS5Yes
Rhode IslandS3BYes
MaineS4BYes
TennesseeS4Yes
VermontS5BYes
New HampshireS5BYes
KentuckyS5BYes
DelawareS2BYes
WisconsinS4BYes
FloridaSNAYes
MassachusettsS5BYes
ColoradoS5BYes
IndianaS4BYes
OklahomaSNRBYes
IowaS5B,S5NYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
No known threats———

—

Roadless Areas (250)
Alaska (2)
AreaForestAcres
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
HyderTongass National Forest121,723
Arizona (10)
AreaForestAcres
Ash CreekPrescott National Forest7,663
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
California (78)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Bald MountainTahoe National Forest5,832
Barney RileyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,083
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Benton RangeInyo National Forest9,637
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Dexter CanyonInyo National Forest17,053
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Iceberg - Silver Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest294
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Onion SpringsLassen National Forest2,421
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
Snow MountainMendocino National Forest14,457
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (5)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Pole Mountain / Finger MesaRio Grande NF43,863
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Idaho (7)
AreaForestAcres
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Montana (25)
AreaForestAcres
Anderson MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest31,501
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area OcdGallatin National Forest35,048
Coal Ridge Ra 1127Flathead National Forest15,429
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
FleecerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest31,585
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
LionheadGallatin National Forest33,549
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Mt. BushnellLolo National Forest41,798
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
QuiggLolo National Forest67,267
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Silver KingLolo National Forest12,816
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (19)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Arc Dome - MahoganyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,208
Arc Dome - OphirHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,652
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
ButtermilkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,373
Cabin CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest10,706
Humboldt - Angel LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,008
Mahogany RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest16,765
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - ChokecherryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,845
Snake - HatcheryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,627
Snake - MurphyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,064
Snake - Peacock CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,069
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
New Mexico (21)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Jacks CreekSanta Fe National Forest740
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
Latir PeakCarson National Forest3,573
Little TesuqueSanta Fe National Forest815
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Mt. TaylorCibola National Forest6,355
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
San Pedro ParksSanta Fe National Forest5,824
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Tesuque CreekSanta Fe National Forest810
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
Oregon (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Marble PointWallowa-Whitman National Forest6,874
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
North Mt. EmilyUmatilla National Forest4,416
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
Utah (36)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401005Ashley National Forest38,930
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
418001Uinta National Forest5,697
418003Uinta National Forest10,912
418012Uinta National Forest25,758
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418029Uinta National Forest15,673
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
East MountainManti-Lasal National Forest30,705
Fishlake MountainFishlake National Forest25,217
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
Joe LottFishlake National Forest19,826
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lava BedsDixie National Forest14,944
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mollens HollowWasatch-Cache National Forest17,690
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
North PavantFishlake National Forest53,262
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
Sugar PineWasatch-Cache National Forest5,600
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Washington (20)
AreaForestAcres
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Canyon CreekWenatchee National Forest7,983
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Higgins MountainMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest13,185
HoodooColville National Forest7,142
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
Willow SpringsUmatilla National Forest10,414
Wyoming (16)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Mosquito Lake - Seven LakesBridger-Teton National Forest51,950
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Rock CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest18,874
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (24)
  1. American Ornithological Society (AOS). Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. Sixty-sixth Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds. Ornithology 142:1-19.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1993. Thirty-ninth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 110:675-82.
  4. Barlow, J.C. 1980. Patterns of ecological interactions among migrant and resident vireos on the wintering grounds. Pages 79-107 in A. Keast and E.S. Morton, editors. Migrant birds in the neotropics: ecology, distribution, and conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
  5. Browning, M. R. 2019. A review of the subspecific and species status of warbling vireo (<i>Vireo gilvus</i>). Oregon Birds 45(2): 89-99.
  6. Bureau of Land Management. Life History Summaries.
  7. Carpenter, A. M., B. A. Graham, G. M. Spellman, J. Klicka, and T. M. Burg. 2022. Genetic, bioacoustic and morphological analyses reveal cryptic speciation in the warbling vireo complex (<i>Vireo gilvus</i>: Vireonidae: Passeriformes). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 195: 45–64.
  8. Droege, S., and J.R. Sauer. 1990. North American Breeding Bird Survey, annual summary, 1989. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(8). 22 pp.
  9. Gardali, T. and G. Ballard. 2020. Warbling Vireo (<i>Vireo gilvus</i>), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.warvir.01
  10. Hagan, J. M., III, and D. W. Johnston, editors. 1992. Ecology and conservation of neotropical migrant landbirds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. xiii + 609 pp.
  11. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  12. Johnson, N. K., R. M. Zink, and J. A. Marten. 1988. Genetic evidence for relationships in the avian family Vireonidae. Condor 90:428-445.
  13. Keast, A., and E.S. Morton. 1980. Migrant birds in the neotropics: ecology, distribution, and conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
  14. Lovell, S. F. 2010. Vocal, morphological, and molecular interactions between <i>Vireo</i> taxa in Alberta. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
  15. Lovell, S. F., M. R. Lein, and S. M. Rogers. 2021. Cryptic speciation in the Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus). Ornithology 138: 1-16. doi: 10.1093/ornithology/ukaa071
  16. Murray, B.W., W.B. McGillivray, and J.C. Barlow. 1994. The use of cytochrome B sequence variation in estimation of phylogeny in the Vireonidae. Condor 96(4):1037-1054.
  17. Sauer, J.R., and S. Droege. 1992. Geographical patterns in population trends of Neotropical migrants in North America. Pages 26-42 in J.M. Hagan, III, and D.W. Johnston, editors. Ecology and conservation of Neotropical migrant landbirds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
  18. Sealy, S.G., A.J. Banks and J.F. Chace. 2000. Two subspecies of warbling vireo differ in their responses to cowbird eggs. Western Birds 31: 190–194.
  19. Sibley, C.G., and B.L. Monroe, Jr. 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. xxiv + 1111 pp.
  20. Slager, D. L., C. J. Battey, R. W. Bryson, Jr., G. Voelker, and J. Klicka. 2014. A multilocus phylogeny of a major New World avian radiation: The Vireonidae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 80:95–104.
  21. Stiles, F. G. and A. F. Skutch. 1989. A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA. 511 pp.
  22. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  23. Voelker, G. and S. Rohwer. 1998. Contrasts in scheduling of molt and migration in eastern and western warbling-vireos. Auk 115: 142–155.
  24. Ward, D., and J. N. M. Smith. 2000. Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism results in a sink population in Warbling Vireos. Auk 117:337-344.