Vireo solitarius
Silhouette: Caleb Gordon · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The blue-headed vireo (Vireo solitarius) is a migratory songbird found in North and Central America. There are currently two recognized subspecies that belong to the blue-headed vireo. It has a range that extends across Canada and the eastern coast of the United States, Mexico, and some of Central America. It prefers large temperate forests with a mix of evergreen trees and deciduous under growth.
As the name suggests, the blue-headed vireo is characterized by its blue-grey head and bold yellow wing bars. Both sexes are very similar in plumage and size. Juveniles also have a similar plumage. Populations of the blue-headed vireo have been steadily increasing since the 1970s. Therefore, in 2004, the species was classified as a "Least Concern" species.
The blue-headed vireo has similar plumage year round and does not drastically change its appearance during the breeding season. It can be characterized by its olive green upper body, two bold yellow wing bars down the edge of its wing, and a deep blue-grey crown from which it gets its name. The juvenile plumage of immature blue-headed vireos is not distinct but very similar to the adult plumage. While this bird's appearance... Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monterrey | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Guatemala City | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 4 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | San Antonio | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Detroit | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Blue-headed Vireo sighting in Chicago on a given day, based on 1,659 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 128th most-seen of the 314 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Blue-headed Vireo in Chicago on a given day, against under 5% in June to April, the lowest months. That is one of Chicago's wettest months, with about 120 mm of rain against 50 mm in January.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Blue-headed Vireo sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
18th of 27
Of the 27 cities where we can rate Blue-headed Vireo sightings, Chicago ranks 18th at under 5%. The best odds are in Monterrey (México, about 10%), New York City (United States, about 10%) and Guatemala City (Guatemala, about 10%).
Same genus: Vireo
The closest relatives of the Blue-headed Vireo that you can see in Chicago (genus Vireo, Vireos) are Warbling Vireo (about 20%) and Red-eyed Vireo (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Blue-headed Vireo is recorded against all the birds logged in Chicago (1,659 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
