FAMILY VireonidcE 



Wyoming and Utah. South in winter to the 

 western part of Mexico. An abundant sum- 

 mer resident of the Pacific Coast states. 



The white line over the eye and absence of 

 wing bars will identify the warbling vireo, 

 while the ring around the eye and distinct 

 white wing bars will indicate the Cassin vireo. 



The Vireos comprise a very compact and 

 w^ell-defined family of about one hundred 

 species that are confined to the western 

 hemisphere. About twenty species visit the 

 United States in the summer, ranging north- 

 ward to the Canadian Provinces. They are 

 noted for their musical ability and on this 

 account are among the most delightful of all 

 the smaller birds of our country. The song 

 of the warbling vireo is loud and clear with a 

 rhythm that carries you with it. That of the 

 Cassin vireo seems to talk to you out of the 

 deep woods and seems to say, / see you, do 

 you see vie? I do, do you? During the nesting 

 season they sing incessantly and dominate the 

 woods with their melody, and both sexes sing 

 while sitting on the nest during incubation. 



The nest of the vireo is a dainty basket 

 hung by the edges to a slender fork in tree or 

 bush, usually in dogwood, alder or hazel on 

 the side of a steep bank. It is a thick-walled, 

 well-woven structure of various vegetable 

 34 



