Philadelphia Vireo Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPhiladelphia Vireo
Somewhat stocky songbird with a thick, hooked bill. Adults in fresh plumage are bright yellow below with a yellow throat. The dark gray crown contrasts with the white eyebrow, though this can be indistinct on some birds.
© Mark Morse / Macaulay LibraryNew Brunswick, May 25, 2019Small and stocky songbird. Rather plain and unmarked overall with a yellowish belly, gray crown, and grayish brown back. Note unmarked wings. Some individuals are brighter than others.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, September 10, 2017Adult
A small, compact vireo with a gray crown, white stripe above the eye, and light yellow throat. Male sings a song that is very similar to the song of Red-eyed Vireo, with short, variable phrases given with a pause of 1–2 seconds in between phrases.
© Bill Hohenstein / Macaulay LibraryNew York, June 22, 2019Not all videos have sound
Small songbird. Pale yellow below with a gray crown and white eyebrow. Easily confused with Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, June 01, 2014Often perches horizontally. Upperparts are brownish gray with unmarked wings. Underparts are washed in pale yellow; some individuals are brighter. Note white eyebrow and dark eye.
© Peter Kennerley / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 09, 2019Adult
Hops between small twigs in trees and shrubs. This video has no audio.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 27, 1997Not all videos have sound
© Steve Kelling / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 17, 2020
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, June 01, 2019
Adult
Jumps up to pick insects off leaves or grabs insects while perched. This video has no audio.
© DAVID BROWN / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 01, 2004Not all videos have sound
© Anton Liebermann / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 16, 2019
Adult
Note the yellow underparts and plainer face; two features that help separate it from the similar looking Red-eyed Vireo. This video has no audio.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 09, 2012Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesWarbling Vireo
Adult
Warbling Vireos are usually more drab than Philadelphia Vireos, with less yellow on the undersides. On Warbling Vireos, the line through the eye does not go all the way to the bill; on Philadelphias it does.
© Ryan O'Donnell / Macaulay LibraryArizona, April 25, 2017Similar SpeciesRed-eyed Vireo
Adult
Red-eyed Vireos are larger and have longer bills than Philadelphia Vireos. They have a bold face pattern with two black lines surrounding a white stripe over the eye. Red-eyed's breast and belly are clean white.
© Jim Hully / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, September 02, 2016Similar SpeciesTennessee Warbler
Breeding male
Tennessee Warblers are daintier than Philadelphia Vireos, with smaller, sharper bills and a busy foraging style. Breeding males have a gray head sharply contrasting with an olive-green back, and white undersides.
© Maurice Raymond / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 27, 2017Similar SpeciesTennessee Warbler
Nonbreeding/immature
Tennessee Warblers are daintier than Philadelphia Vireos with smaller, sharper bills. Nonbreeding birds and immatures lack Philadelphia's olive-brown back and dark cap. Tennessee's undertail coverts are usually bright white.
© Jeremy Collison / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 22, 2013Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Vireonidae)
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