
For the past two or three weeks, in one particular stretch of trail dog and I hike daily, I’ve heard and/or seen at least one Warbling Vireo. I’ve really begun to like these birds a lot.
Back in Maine, before I moved out west, I encountered only a few Warbling Vireos. Not that they’re uncommon—but they clearly like the landscape hereabouts. They seem to like to hang out in bigtooth maples. And usually I hear a pair of them (today there were three) singing their warbly, un-vireo-like tune to each other, declaring their territory.
That tune has grown on me. It’s a fairly rapid warble, a bit House Finch–like but not very long, typically ending on a rising note. It’s subtle, though. As is the bird itself. Stays deep in the leaves. Doesn’t flit about too much, so they’re easy to miss.
This morning it took me ten or fifteen minutes of waiting quietly in one place to get a photo.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* (v)
2. Black-headed Grosbeak
3. Black-billed Magpie*
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. Lazuli Bunting
6. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. Spotted Towhee
9. Rock Pigeon*
10. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
11. House Finch**
12. Warbling Vireo
13. Chipping Sparrow (v)
14. MacGillivray’s Warbler
15. Orange-crowned Warbler (v)
16. Song Sparrow*
17. Turkey Vulture
Elsewhere
18. House Sparrow
19. Mourning Dove
20. California Quail
Mammals
None
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, California quail, chipping sparrow, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, MacGillivray’s warbler, mourning dove, Orange-crowned Warbler, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, turkey vulture, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub jay