Critters of the Week

Where Spotted: Reedy Creek
Common Name: Red-eyed Vireo
Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Length: 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
Weight: 0.4-0.9 oz (12-26 g)
Wingspan: 9.1-9.8 in (23-25 cm)

Quick Facts (Courtesy of Cornell Labs)

• The red iris that gives the Red-eyed Vireo its name doesn’t develop until the end of the birds’ first winter. Then the brown iris the birds were born with becomes dull brick red to bright crimson in different individuals.
• Some find the Red-eyed Vireo’s song unending and monotonous. Bradford Torrey wrote in 1889, “I have always thought that whoever dubbed this vireo the ‘preacher’ could have had no very exalted opinion of the clergy.” But each male sings 30 or more different songs, and neighbors have unique repertoires. Over 12,500 different Red-eyed Vireo song types have been recorded.
• On May 27, 1952, Louise de Kiriline Lawrence counted the number of songs sung by a single Red-eyed Vireo seeking a mate on his territory 180 miles north of Toronto. He sang 22,197 songs in the 14 hours from just before dawn to evening, singing for 10 of those hours.
• From the 1920s to the 1940s Red-eyed Vireos expanded west into Utah and Oregon and northeast into Newfoundland. The most likely cause is new shelterbelts and landscaping, particularly where eastern tree species were planted. Since the 1970s, however, numbers in the Big Basin region of the West seem to have fallen steadily.
• Several subspecies of Red-eyed Vireos remain resident in South America or migrate only within that continent.
• The Red-eyed Vireo’s magnetic compass guides migration between continents. But fat stores seem to influence migration paths when the birds encounter the Gulf of Mexico. Fatter birds head across the Gulf, while leaner birds hug the coastline or travel inland around the Gulf. Cloud cover also makes routes near land more likely.
• The oldest known Red-eyed Vireo was at least 10 years, 2 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operation in Maryland.

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Vander at Richmond SPCA

Hey there! My name is Vander and I was transferred to the Richmond SPCA from Texas. I can be nervous in new situations, so I need someone that will proceed with things at my pace. Are you a patient person that is willing to take things slow for a pup like me? If so, I might be a great fit for you! Please call the nice folks at the Richmond SPCA adoption center at 804-521-1307. Thanks!

Age: 4 years, 1 month
Gender: Neutered Male
Color: White / Black
Size: XL (dog size guide)
ID: 45395097

Adopt Vander at Richmond SPCA

Learn more about their adoption process.

To reduce visitor traffic, during the COVID-19 outbreak they are scheduling adoption appointments beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Please leave your phone number in a voicemail or email and an adoption counselor will call to set an appointment for you to meet with a pet. Email the adoption center or call 804-521-1307.