A bulky, large-headed vireo. Adult is rich yellowish-green above and mostly off-white below, with a crisply patterned head and deep red eye (in good light). Crown is bluish-gray, bordered by narrow black lateral crown stripes and a whitish supercilium. Dusky gray eye line runs from the base of the bill through the eye to the back of the supercilium and the auriculars are greenish-yellow. Bill is relatively long and thick, and shows a slight hook to the tip of the upper mandible at close range. Underparts are dingy whitish with a slight yellowish wash along the flanks. Red eye may look dark in low light settings. Immatures are similar to adults, but have a dark eye and more extensive yellow below, particularly on the flanks and vent. Yellow-green and Black-whiskered Vireos, both limited to southern fringes of U.S., have duskier head patterns with less crisply defined supercilium, and much more yellow on underparts.

Length: 15 (cm) Wingspan: 25 (cm)

Voice:

Clear, loud, sweet phrases, each with two or three notes, separated by short pauses, repeated continuously. Incessant song is often described as: "see me, here I am, over here." Calls include mewing and scolding notes.

Habitat:

Deciduous woods, riparian zones, large cottonwoods, parks, mature broad-leaved groves.

Behavior:

Notorious for foraging very high in canopy among thick leaves; sometimes difficult to observe. Heard more often than seen. Nest is a fine cup suspended from forked tree branch.

Feeding:

Gleans high deciduous foliage for a variety of insects and other invertebrates, and occasional fruit.