Life List 104
Visually documented
Western Warbling Vireo
Vireo swainsoni
- First photographed
- July 13, 2026
- First location
- Colorado, United States
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated
An evolving study
Western Warbling Vireo portfolio
This collection grows as I return to photograph new behavior, habitat, seasons, and stages of life.
Natural history
Species at a glance
Vireo swainsoni
Overview
The Western Warbling Vireo is a plain-looking but persistent singer of western deciduous and riparian woodland. It searches the outer foliage deliberately and often sings while moving through the canopy.
Identification
Gray-olive above and pale below with a whitish eyebrow, dark line through the eye, short stout bill, and no obvious wingbars. A faint yellow wash may appear on the flanks, especially in fresh plumage.
Range
Breeds across western North America from Alaska and western Canada through the western United States. It migrates to Mexico and Central America and locally farther south for winter.
Habitat
Aspen groves, cottonwood and willow corridors, open deciduous and mixed forest, mountain valleys, parks, and woodland edges.
Diet
Caterpillars, beetles, bugs, flies, and other insects gleaned from foliage, with berries and small fruit taken seasonally.
Photography by Brittany Templin