Bell's Vireo
Bell's Vireo has surged: up 127% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Bell's Vireo
The Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) is a North American member of the Vireos (Vireonidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.
- Size
- 4.5–6 in long (11–15 cm) — a small, deliberate songbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
- Diet
- Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
- Range
- Recorded on 652 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 22 states, most concentrated in the Eastern Tallgrass Prairie.
- Family
- Vireonidae · Forest birds
Notable Bell's Vireo TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
Bell's Vireo has surged in surveyed states: up 127% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
Bell's Vireo Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Bell's Vireo is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.43 (95% range 0.27–0.59). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±24.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Bell's Vireo Is Detected
BBS routes recording Bell's Vireo, sized by most recent count.
Bell's Vireo Population Trend by State
Bell's Vireo Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Bell's Vireo Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 127% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.