Bell's Vireo Photo Gallery

Adult (Eastern)

Small songbird with a bill larger than a warbler's but fairly small for a vireo. Brownish-gray overall with two pale wingbars, the upper one less distinct than the lower one. Flanks are usually washed yellow.

Adult (Least)

Small songbird with a heavier bill than a warbler. Brownish-gray overall with two whitish wingbars. "Least" subspecies (endangered) occurs in California and is the grayest form, with almost no green or yellow.

A small, energetic vireo with a distinctive scratchy, hurried song. Frequently flicks tail.

Adult (Arizona)

Small songbird with pale arcs around the eye, interrupted by dark line through eye. Brownish-gray overall with two wingbars, the lower one more prominent.

Adult (Eastern)

Small songbird with a heavier bill than a warbler's. "Eastern" subspecies is the brightest, with greenish back, yellow flanks, and gray head with dark line through eye and broken white eyering.

"Least" Bell's Vireo is smaller and grayer than other populations. This endangered subspecies occurs only in California and Baja California.

Adult (Arizona)

Occurs in shrubs and thickets, often fairly low. "Arizona" subspecies is mostly gray-brown with wingbars that can be indistinct. Flanks can show faint yellow.

Adult (Least)

Small songbird with fairly small bill for a vireo. Grayish overall with pale arcs around the eye, broken by a dark line through the eye. Wingbars can be indistinct. Yellow wash on flanks is often faint.

Adult (Eastern)

Small songbird with bill thicker than a warbler's. "Eastern" subspecies can have bright yellow underparts. Pale eyering is broken by dark line through eye.

Adult (Eastern)

Occurs in tangled shrubby and brushy areas including wetlands, regenerating woods, thickets, brushy fields, mesquite, and chaparral.