I learned this bird as the “Solitary” Vireo:
Previously it had been called the “Blue-headed” Vireo and now that name has returned:
This is generally the first of our vireos to show up in spring and the last to leave in autumn:
In summer, it is a bird of coniferous forests and may occur wherever conifers are found:
It is seldom common anywhere. During my month-of-June Breeding Bird Surveys, Red-eyed Vireos outnumber them by about 500 – 1.
In winter, they go south to the southern United States, Central America and Cuba.
The blue-headed Vireo has white “spectacles”
a white throat:
and white underparts:
The Blue-eyed is very similar to the “Plumbeous” Vireo which is being seen these days in Niagara. The main difference with the Plumbeous is that it has a complete lack of yellow pigment in plumage whereas the Blue-headed shows a little:
Often when I see a Blue-headed in migration, it seems very calm and allows a close approach as our bird did this morning.
They usually feed at the middle to upper level of trees:
Diet is insects and larvae gleaned from leaves:
Other birds:
Species list: double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, killdeer, Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, herring gull, mourning dove, northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, blue-headed vireo, European starling, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow. (24 species)
Park views:
Today’s group:
Some botany:
NATURE POETRY
A touch of cold in the Autumn night—
I walked abroad,
And saw the ruddy moon lean over a hedge
Like a red-faced farmer.
I did not stop to speak, but nodded,
And round about were the wistful stars
With white faces like town children. – T.E. Hulme (1883–1917)
Miles Hearn