Fun Hutton's Vireo Facts For Kids

The Hutton's vireo was named after William Rich Hutton and are popular songbirds. Often mistaken for warblers, Huttons are small and cute birds. There is a species called the Warbler Hutton but they are a different species.

They are popular birds of North America. They do not migrate and stay in one place for most of their life. They are not solitary birds and often seen in pairs of two. As per the North American Breeding Bird Survey, their populations have experienced 1.3% growth from 1966-2015, but current trends have still not been evaluated. They are majorly affected by changes in habitat. In this article, we will take a look at some fun and interesting facts about these species. If you like this article, then visit Common Nighthawk facts and Palm Warbler facts for more relatable content.

What type of animal is a Hutton's Vireo?

The Vireo (Hutton) is a type of bird that belongs to the Animalia kingdom and order Passeriformes.

What class of animal does a Hutton's Vireo belong to?

Hutton's Vireo is a type of bird that belongs to the Aves class of species and Vireonidae family which includes various subspecies. Vireonidae is found only in the New world family.

How many Hutton's Vireos are there in the world?

The exact number of vireo huttoni is evaluated at 2.7 million breeding population as per the Partners in Flight, an organization that keeps population check for such species. As per the North American Breeding Bird Survey, their populations have experienced 1.3% growth from 1966-2015 but current trends have still not been evaluated.

Where does a Hutton's Vireo live?

Vireo huttoni habitats range from seaside forests to montane forests above elevations of 11,800 ft. They are primarily seen in the woods i.e. in coniferous trees, mixed, oak forests, or tall chaparral. The felling of trees leads to loss of habitat and in turn, affects their life. They are residents of the United States, Texas, Mexico, along the pacific coast British Columbia, Guatemala, Arizona, California, Washington.

What is a Hutton's Vireo's habitat?

The Vireo huttoni is primarily seen in the woods i.e. in branches or trees in coniferous, mixed, and oak forests and lowland streams. They are omnivores and get access to all their dietary requirements in trees. The remaining time, they spend in flight. Logging practices have benefitted these birds as they created shrubby second-growth stands for them.

Who do Hutton's Vireos live with?

They are not solitary unlike various other species of birds and move in groups of two's both in winter as well as in summer. They, in some instances, move with other species of birds as well and coexist with other wild species in the wild, in Douglas fir, like the warblers and other small birds.

How long does a Hutton's Vireo live?

The average lifespan of a vireo (Hutton vireo) is seven years. The oldest vireo lived 13 years and six months when it was recaptured and released in California in 2006.

How do they reproduce?

Males and females remain together all year round. They have a courtship display which consists of the male spreading their tail fluffing the body plumage and giving a nasal call. Males sing and mark their territory/areas by spring in order to attract a female. Females select a site and build a breeding habitat/nest with twigs, spider egg cases, spider cocoons, or any material which is suitable. Post mating the female lays one to five eggs. There is an incubation period of 14-16 days. Males and females remain close together and feed the eggs and nestlings through this time and the eggs appear white with some brown marks.

What is their conservation status?

The vireo (Hutton) is classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN).

What do Hutton's Vireos look like?

The Ruby-crowned kinglet or the warblers are two species often mistaken along with the Hutton's vireos however they are all separate species. Hutton's vireos are small size bird species and are olive-gray in color. They flick their wings which are dark with two white wing bars. The wing bars are bold and easy to identify. They have a gray bill which is short, two small cute eyes that are dark in color, and have a white eye-ring. The face shows an incomplete eyering that is thicker in front of and behind the eye.

How cute are they?

They are extremely cute and melodious birds sitting on tree branches who are beautiful in appearance, however, these small species are fast fliers and are seldom seen for longer periods of time.

How do they communicate?

Vireo species are known as songbirds. Vireo species communicate via both song as well as calls. Its most common song is its repeated 'chu-wee' song. These songbirds also communicate via various other calls in order to communicate to possible mates and make use of body language in some instances.

How big is a Hutton's Vireo?

Hutton's vireo is 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm) which is two times bigger than the smallest bird, the bee hummingbird 2.4 in (6.1 cm) in length.

How fast can a Hutton's Vireo fly?

They are small yet quick birds. They catch flying insects as well when in flight. They can travel large distances. The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest bird species.

How much does a Hutton's Vireo weigh?

Hutton's vireo weighs 0.3-0.5 oz (9-15 g). The heaviest flying bird is the Kori bustard and weighs about 18 kg.  

What are their male and female names of the species?

Male and female vireos are not addressed differently and differ in reproductive functions even if they look similar to each other.

What would you call a baby Hutton's Vireo?

Baby birds are often called nestlings or chicks. Baby vireos can also be called nestlings or chicks when they are born and in their nests. Once they develop wings and are independent to fly they don't need any more support.

What do they eat?

These birds of north America consume are omnivores in nature and feed primarily on leaves. They also eat berries, fruits, and plant galls. Apart from this, they feed on flying as well as small insects that reside in trees and spiders.

Are they poisonous?

No, these species of birds are not poisonous in nature instead, their instant response to any human presence or predator is their flight instinct.

Would they make a good pet?

They are innately wild animals and thrive best in the wild, therefore not suitable to keep as pets.There are other species of birds who are friendly and sociable in nature that are suitable to keep as pets.

Did you know...

There is a bird guide book called 'The Sibley Guide To Birds' that represents 12 years of work by author David Allen Sibley. There is also a second edition by Alfred Knopf, New York, USA which you could read about more online to learn in-depth about birds.

The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center is a wildlife research center that maintains records of bird populations and evaluates all reasons through surveys and outcomes for their sustenance. They also conduct workshops on topics that are available on their website for any bird enthusiast to involve themselves in.

Recent DNA studies conducted on these birds suggest that splitting these species into two based on their genetic variation is possible to differentiate between coastal Pacific birds as compared to interior birds.

Do Hutton's Vireos migrate?

No, they are not migratory birds unlike various small species of birds. They stay in the same regions mostly and spend equal time both in flight and resting on the bark of a tree. The smallest migrating bird is a hummingbird.

How can you identify a Hutton's Vireo?

They are small in length birds that are olive-gray in color. They are light in weight and have short feet and a neck. Their tail and wings have a yellowish edging. Their eyes have a white eye-ring. They are seen feeding on insects as well as leaves and certain fruits. If you live in a region native to these species or are visiting one, notice the small species of birds you come across in forest regions especially near oak trees. If you do face confusion consult an expert to guide you or utilize a bird app that will assist you in identifying it. You will definitely love Hutton's vireos bird species.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our Eastern Kingbird interesting facts and Toco Toucan fun facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable grey vireo coloring pages..