Head to head
Lesser Greenlet vs Red-Eyed Vireo
The lesser greenlet and the red-eyed vireo are both members of the vireo family, Vireonidae, but one lives quietly and goes largely unnoticed, while the other is one of the most relentless singers in North American forests.
| Lesser Greenlet | Red-Eyed Vireo | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pachysylvia decurtata | Vireo olivaceus |
| Family | Vireonidae | Vireonidae |
| Plumage | Plain greenish-yellow | Olive-green with a distinctive red iris |
| Vocal behaviour | Not a notably persistent singer | Sings almost continuously, over 20,000 phrases recorded in one day |
| Range | Mexico through Central America into northern South America | Most of Canada and the eastern United States, wintering in the Amazon basin |
| Brood parasitism | Not a commonly reported target | A frequent target of brown-headed cowbird brood parasitism |
| Diet | Insectivore, methodically gleaning insects | Insectivore, gleaning caterpillars and other invertebrates |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lesser Greenlet vs Red-eyed Vireo: common questions
Are the lesser greenlet and red-eyed vireo closely related?
Yes, both belong to the same family, Vireonidae, sharing the deliberate foraging style and sturdy, slightly hooked bill typical of vireos, despite their very different public profiles.
Which of the two is known for its singing?
The red-eyed vireo is by far the more vocal of the two, with individual males recorded delivering more than 20,000 short song phrases in a single day, while the lesser greenlet is not known for anything close to that level of vocal output.
Do the lesser greenlet and red-eyed vireo share the same range?
Only partially; the lesser greenlet is found further south, from Mexico through Central America into northern South America, while the red-eyed vireo breeds much further north across Canada and the eastern United States before migrating to the Amazon basin for winter.