June 7, 2026

A Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) is a bird that has a lot to say, in very few words. In mnemonic terms it simply says, “Here I am. Where are you.” Very quickly. Over and over. I’m hearing them quite often, and seeing them when I’m lucky.

And this is the nest of a Red-eyed Vireo, just a bit more than 2 inches across, in a cup shape, suspended from the horizontal fork of a Flowering Dogwood tree (Cornus florida). It’s woven strips of bark, grasses, and pine needles, along with bits of wasp or hornet nests. All this is held together with spiderwebs and caterpillar silk. This tiny spot is lined with fine grasses, bits of roots, and sometimes animal hair.

Pure magic.

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