vireo

American  

[vir-ee-oh] / ˈvɪr iˌoʊ /

noun

• vireos
  plural

1. any of several small, insectivorous American birds of the family Vireonidae, having the plumage usually olive-green or gray above and white or yellow below.

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vireo British  

/ ˈvɪrɪəʊ /

noun

1. any insectivorous American songbird of the family Vireonidae, esp those of the genus Vireo, having an olive-grey back with pale underparts

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• vireos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vireo

1825–35; < New Latin; Latin vireō (Pliny), probably the greenfinch, derivative of virēre to be green

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vireo vireos

A rather plain but sweet-looking species called the Philadelphia vireo wasn’t studied a single time during this 55-year period, according to the analysis.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2025

The pair once spent a week combing brushy hills and mesas in the Grapevine Mountains on the eastern edges of Death Valley in hopes of spotting an elusive and rarely seen gray vireo.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2023

The rose-breasted grosbeak is there too, and the red-eyed vireo, and the indigo bunting.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 22, 2023

The song that Gary made the recording of did sound a bit like a bird called a brown-capped vireo.

From Slate ● Nov. 20, 2021

Yet the vireo is more common than two-thirds of the birds he knows.

From The Meaning of Evolution by Samuel Christian Schmucker

"The density of migratory warblers, flycatchers, and vireos crowded into these five forests is astounding, and means that each hectare protected there safeguards a disproportionate number of birds."

From Science Daily ● Nov. 22, 2025

I regularly overhear other birders marveling over the flashy warblers in breeding plumage, while overlooking other comparatively less-flashy birds like vireos and sparrows.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2025

But birds that are more sensitive to temperatures — and those whose prey can’t stand the heat — might suffer under persistent warming, such as yellow warblers and Bell’s vireos.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2024

The arrival of warblers, vireos and other colorful birds last week has excited Britain’s twitching community — enthusiastic bird-watchers who will travel long distances to view new or unusual species.

From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2023

The vireos twitter as they carry food to their nestlings.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George