| Common Name | Bell's Vireo |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vireo bellii |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 10/15/2021 |
| Media | |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Kyle Jones |
| Mailing Address | 22 Blue Moon Rd South Strafford, VT 05070 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 10/20/2021 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | Observed by many over the following days--currently in 30+ eBird checklists, many with fantastic photographs and descriptions. |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 43°37'56.7"N |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 72°30'33.4"W |
| Place Name | Ottauquechee River Trail |
| Township | Woodstock |
| County | Windsor |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 08:20 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 6 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 40 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 15 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Clear but with good light, light breeze. Temps above freezing (no fall frost yet at this location). |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | 7x Nikon Monarch |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | I have seen both this race and the western type in previous years, in expected range, not as a vagrant. I am familiar with similar North American vireos. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Shrubby field edge under a powerline, adjacent fields have been fallow the past few years. There was also a red-eyed vireo nearby. I did not see them simultaneously but in essentially the same vegetation and distance for comparison. |
| Behaviors Observed | Not remarkable. I did not notice the tail flicking attributed to this species. |
| Description of Vocalizations | None noted. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | My first impression was of a kinglet because of the size and color. It may have been flicking it’s wings but I don’t remember for sure. I soon realized it was a vireo. Then it was a question of Philadelphia or Warbling. Fortunately Nathaniel Sharp noted in the photographs I posted that the field marks were better suited for Bell’s. First Vermont eBird record. Very small vireo with a faint dark eye line, including the lores, white throat and breast with yellow on the flanks and a yellowish wash to the back. Gray on the back of the head and the wings, white wing bar on each wing. In photos the tail appears proportionally longer than it should for a Philly Vireo. There appears to be some paleness to the base of the bill. Yellowish wash to the flanks and bluish legs indicate it may be of the eastern population bellii/medius. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Smaller than the nearby red-eyed vireo. Not too dis-similar in size to a ruby-crowned kinglet. |
| Head | Please see above description (and eBird checklist) for the description. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Clearly undersized and not as boldly marked as red-eyed vireo. |
| Other Notes & Comments | As noted above, it appears to be of the eastern population bellii/medius. I was able to observe the bird again in the same area on 10/19/2021 https://ebird.org/vt/checklist/S96428864 |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Written from Memory |
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