Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) is in the Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis family (Vireonidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 11,961 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Blue-headed Vireo: observations by month (U.S.)
About Blue-headed Vireo
The blue-headed vireo (Vireo solitarius) is a Neotropical migrating song bird found in North and Central America. There are currently two recognized sub-species that belong to the blue-headed vireo. It has a range that extends across Canada and the eastern coast of the United-States, Mexico and some of Central America. It prefers large temperate forests with a mix of evergreen trees and deciduous under growth.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Blue-headed Vireo by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,990 | April | Oct–May |
| Florida | 1,280 | January | Nov–Mar |
| New York | 943 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 578 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Vermont | 578 | May | Apr–Jul |
| North Carolina | 541 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Virginia | 537 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 502 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Ohio | 489 | May | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 457 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 414 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Illinois | 350 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 339 | May | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 304 | November | Oct–May |
| Michigan | 282 | May | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 273 | January | Nov–Apr |
| South Carolina | 211 | January | Oct–Apr |
| West Virginia | 200 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 191 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Jersey | 184 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Minnesota | 182 | May | May–May |
| Alabama | 148 | January | Oct–Jan |
| Wisconsin | 130 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 110 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Mississippi | 102 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Missouri | 85 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 78 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 77 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 70 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Kansas | 42 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 38 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 36 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Iowa | 35 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 34 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Delaware | 30 | October | Oct–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 27 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Colorado | 24 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Arkansas | 17 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Dakota | 17 | September | Aug–Sep |
| New Mexico | 12 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Arizona | 9 | January | Oct–Jan |
| North Dakota | 8 | September | Sep–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Western Warbling Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Bell's Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Blue-headed Vireo?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Blue-headed Vireo most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, New York.