Cassin’s Vireo

Cassin’s vireo (Vireo cassinii) is a small North American songbird in the Vireonidae family, ranging from southern British Columbia in Canada through the western coastal states of the United States. This bird migrates, spending the winter from southern Arizona (the Sonoran Desert) to southern Mexico.

It prefers open woodlands of the western mountains and foothills. It is usually found in the middle to lower portions of the forest canopy, where it slowly and deliberately forages for insects among the foliage.

Cassin’s Vireos consume mostly insects, including larvae. They also take spiders, seeds, and small fruits. Insect prey items include moths, butterflies, caterpillars, stinkbugs, squashbugs, shieldbugs, ladybird beetles, leafhoppers, treehoppers, scale insects, weevils, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, and crickets.