More Red-eyed Vireo pics

This Red-eyed Vireo is a first year bird because it still has a dark iris (adults have a red iris, thus the name). It is in Basic I plumage, with grayish sides to its' neck evident. It has a yellow wash though this is enhanced in these pics by the surrounding greenish vegetation.

Since only males are known to sing, this bird is a male. This species is well known for long bouts of singing and individual birds have a large repertoire of songs, an average of 40 song types per The Birds of North America online. This reference further notes that over 1200 song types have been recorded for this species. When they are on their breeding grounds they sing from about a half hour before dawn and continues into the afternoon. I caught this bird singing in both of these pics.

Red-eyed Vireo, the non-stop singers

This morning I returned to the Canon City Riverwalk and was quickly rewarded with a singing Red-eyed Vireo, the first this year. I watched it for about 15 minutes as it flitted from branch to branch, singing vociferously then taking a quick break to eat then returning to its singing.
Not easy to locate visually, once sighted it's distinctive white eyebrow that is sandwiched between a dark eyeline and a dark crown makes distinguishes it from other vireo species. More pics on next post.
SeEtta