Episode 8: Red-Eyed Vireo – Voice of the Wild
06/07/24 • 1 min
Learn the song and call of the Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus).
A key member of the summer orchestra, you’ll hear this common gray and olive bird on nearly every hike. It sings throughout the day, every day, seemingly every minute. Uttering short little phrases one after another as if it's just letting us know that it’s up there. It tends to slink about in the upper canopy inspecting the underside of leaves for caterpillars and other arthropods. Despite its name, its red iris is not always easy to see; look instead for its dark eyeline and pale eyebrow.
Do you want to learn more bird songs, frog calls, and insect noises? Join Voice of the Wild every Friday to explore a new wild voice. From time to time, we’ll also do a deep dive into wildlife science, news, and natural history. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy program.
Available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
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The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode:
Red-eyed vireo song (ML507846) by Geoffrey A. Keller
Red-eyed vireo call (ML507849) by Oliver H. Hewitt
Learn the song and call of the Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus).
A key member of the summer orchestra, you’ll hear this common gray and olive bird on nearly every hike. It sings throughout the day, every day, seemingly every minute. Uttering short little phrases one after another as if it's just letting us know that it’s up there. It tends to slink about in the upper canopy inspecting the underside of leaves for caterpillars and other arthropods. Despite its name, its red iris is not always easy to see; look instead for its dark eyeline and pale eyebrow.
Do you want to learn more bird songs, frog calls, and insect noises? Join Voice of the Wild every Friday to explore a new wild voice. From time to time, we’ll also do a deep dive into wildlife science, news, and natural history. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy program.
Available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Subscription links Here
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Listen online on our Homepage
The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode:
Red-eyed vireo song (ML507846) by Geoffrey A. Keller
Red-eyed vireo call (ML507849) by Oliver H. Hewitt
Previous Episode
Episode 7: Common Yellowthroat – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas).
This big witchity-witchety song, often heard in tallgrass prairies and open marshes, comes from a little chunky warbler with a yellow throat and black mask. Males call out all summer long, sometimes popping out of the low reeds and grasses to do so. Listen out for their scolding rattle call anywhere there’s tall grass with a little water nearby. While Females lack the male’s distinctive black mask, they keep the yellow throat as well as the bird’s distinctive crisp chip.
Do you want to learn more bird songs, frog calls, and insect noises? Join Voice of the Wild every Friday to explore a new wild voice. From time to time, we’ll also do a deep dive into wildlife science, news, and natural history. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy program.
Available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Subscription links Here
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Listen online on our Homepage
Common yellowthroat rattle call (XC468422) by Doug Raybuck (from www.xeno-canto.org)
The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode:
Common yellowthroat song (ML509109) by Geoffrey A. Keller
Common yellowthroat call (ML509117) by Peter Paul Kellogg and Brina Kessel
Next Episode
Episode 9: Eastern Meadowlark – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna).
This yellow-fronted bird with a black V on its chest often sings from fence posts and power lines. It’s fairly common anywhere grasses have been spared regular mowing. It nests on the ground where it forages for insects using a long pointed beak. When startled from its prairie or pasture home it flies away with rapid wingbeats then fans out its white-edged tail to catch the wind as it glides to a stop. Its call is harsh and electric but its song is sweet and smooth; the favorite of many farmers across the state.
Do you want to learn more bird songs, frog calls, and insect noises? Join Voice of the Wild every Friday to explore a new wild voice. From time to time, we’ll also do a deep dive into wildlife science, news, and natural history. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy program.
Available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Subscription links Here
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Listen online on our Homepage
The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode:
Eastern Meadowlark song by Wil Hershberger (ML509953)
Eastern Meadowlark call by Ted Parker (ML509967)
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