Quick Answer
Red-eyed vireos do occasionally visit bird feeders, especially during migration, but they are not regular feeder birds like chickadees, titmice, finches, and cardinals. Red-eyed vireos prefer to forage for insects and spiders in the forest canopy, so they will not regularly come down to platform feeders in yards. However, they may stop by feeders sporadically when migrating through an area. Offering mealworms and suet can increase the chance of attracting red-eyed vireos to feeders. Overall though, this species mainly stays up high in the trees searching for insects rather than coming to bird feeders on the ground.
Do Red-eyed Vireos Eat at Bird Feeders?
Red-eyed vireos are not typical bird feeder visitors, but they will occasionally come to feeders, especially during spring and fall migrations. This vireo spends the majority of its time high up in the forest canopy, foraging among leaves for insects and spiders. It does not naturally feed on seeds or suet. However, red-eyed vireos are somewhat opportunistic and will sample alternative food sources when migrating through unfamiliar areas. Backyard bird feeders may attract their attention at these times.
During migration, red-eyed vireos may be enticed to feeders by offerings of high protein foods like mealworms, suet with insects, and peanut butter mixes with nuts or cornmeal. Platform feeders with these foods may receive a visit from a passing red-eyed vireo, especially if there are low branches or bushes nearby for perching. This is when birders are most likely to see red-eyed vireos in their yards.
However, since their diet consists mainly of caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, and spiders, red-eyed vireos are not going to become regular visitors at feeders stocked with seed mixes, like millet, sunflower seeds, thistle, and corn. They sometimes supplement their diet with berries and fruits in the fall and may sample sugary syrups from hummingbird feeders on occasion. But they are unlikely to regularly dine on feeders with traditional bird seed.
Migration and Diet
Red-eyed vireos breed across Canada and the eastern United States during the summer months. They overwinter in South America, migrating through the eastern half of the U.S. in spring and fall. Their diet during breeding season consists primarily of insects and spiders plucked from leaves while foraging in deciduous trees. But will expand their tastes while migrating.
During migration flights, which occur at night, red-eyed vireos will opportunistically visit backyard feeders in unfamiliar surroundings to refuel and rest. While they prefer their regular diet of caterpillars and other insects, mealworms, suet, peanut butter, and sugary foods from hummingbird feeders can provide useful calories. Backyard birders may spot red-eyed vireos briefly sampling offerings at their feeders in spring and fall as the birds pass through. But extended stays are unlikely since natural foraging habitats with leafy trees are their preferred feeding sites.
Backyard Feeding Tips
To increase the odds of attracting migrating red-eyed vireos, consider these tips:
- Offer live mealworms in platform feeders or mesh socks. Mealworms closely mimic the natural insect diet of red-eyed vireos.
- Try suet mixes with insects, fruit, or peanuts. Suet offers needed fat for migration and the additions may entice stopovers.
- Have peanut butter blends with cornmeal, oats, honey, or nuts. Peanut butter is a high protein food that vireos may sample.
- Include berries and fruits in platform feeders. Vireos sometimes supplement their diet with berries in fall.
- Provide nectar in hummingbird feeders. Sugary nectar offers quick energy.
- Situate feeders near trees or shrubs. Vireos feel safer with nearby perches to flee to.
- Accept sporadic visits. Vireos are unlikely to become regulars like chickadees or titmice.
With these tactics, red-eyed vireo sightings at your feeders are possible. But do not expect them to become constant visitors. They are shy, skittish birds that prefer finding food high in the forest canopy. A migrating red-eyed vireo may sample your offerings briefly before moving on in search of its natural food sources. Appreciate any brief visits when they occur.
Reasons Red-eyed Vireos Don’t Frequently Visit Feeders
Several factors explain why red-eyed vireos only occasionally visit backyard bird feeders rather than becoming regular visitors:
Insect Diet
Red-eyed vireos are primarily insectivores. Their diet usually consists of caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They use their slightly curved beak to pick insects and spiders from leaves while hopping along branches high up in deciduous trees. Bird seed mixes containing sunflower, millet, thistle, corn, and other grains do not match their natural food preferences. Suet, mealworms, and peanut butter blends better fit their normal insect and protein diet.
Foraging Habits
Red-eyed vireos forage for food on the move, actively hopping along branches and intently gleaning insects and spiders concealed on the underside of foliage in the forest canopy. Platform bird feeders require vireos to sit in one place. This does not match their usual foraging strategy of constantly moving through tree branches scanning for hidden insects. They are not adapted to static feeding.
Shyness
Red-eyed vireos are shy, cautious birds that flit away into dense cover at the slightest disturbance. Noisy urban areas near backyard feeders often deter them. And feeders out in the open make them feel too exposed. They prefer feeding in sheltered forest habitats. Their wariness limits their willingness to visit backyard offerings.
Lack of Nearby Trees
Red-eyed vireos like having trees and shrubs nearby to quickly escape into when alarmed. Feeders located in the middle of open lawns or grassy fields do not provide enough security cover for their liking. They are more likely to visit feeders situated close to woods, hedgerows, or shrubbery where they can instantly take refuge if startled.
Not Normal Migration Habitat
During migration, red-eyed vireos stop to rest and refuel in habitats similar to their breeding grounds, like broadleaf woodlands with a dense understory. They are not naturally inclined to visit the open suburban and urban areas where backyard bird feeders are typically located. The unfamiliar setting of most yards is inconsistent with the forest habitats red-eyed vireos prefer.
How to Spot a Red-eyed Vireo at a Feeder
Red-eyed vireos are not frequent backyard birds, but birders may get lucky and attract one passing through during migration. Here are tips for spotting a red-eyed vireo if it makes a brief stop at your feeder:
- Scan small songbirds visiting the feeder. Look for one around 6 inches long from beak to tail.
- Note the gray cap, white eyebrow stripe, and greenish back if seen. These are helpful identification markings.
- Check for the red iris if you get a clear frontal view of the bird’s face.
- Listen for the vireo’s distinct song – a repetitive series of short, burry phrases.
- Act patiently and quietly. Sudden movements will scare off this shy species.
- Have your binoculars or camera ready. The vireo may dart off quickly after eating.
- Be alert following nights with low cloud cover. Vireos often migrate on those nights.
Careful observation and a little luck are needed to pick out a red-eyed vireo making a brief stopover at your feeder. But if you spot one, it creates an exciting backyard birding experience.
Conclusion
Red-eyed vireos are not regular backyard feeder birds. They normally forage for insects and spiders high up in leafy deciduous trees, seldom venturing down to platform feeders near the ground. However, migrating red-eyed vireos may opportunistically sample feeders with offerings like mealworms, suet, peanut butter, and sugary nectar that provide useful nutrition for their long journeys. Such visits are likely to be temporary though, just brief stopovers to refuel. With patience and the right feeder setup, you might get lucky and attract the fleeting attention of a migrating red-eyed vireo. But don’t expect them to become constant feeder visitors. They are shy, forest-loving birds that will soon move on to continue their migration and resume foraging in their typical woodland habitat. Any sighting of a red-eyed vireo at your feeder, even if just for a few moments, should be considered a special birdwatching treat.