Population status

White-eyed Vireo
(Vireo griseus)

With the Canadian distribution of this rare species restricted to southern Ontario, there are few data sources available to determine changes in abundance since 1970. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario focuses on species occurrence and not abundance, and only covers the 20-year time period between the two Ontario Atlases (mid-1980s to mid-2000s). Nesting was first confirmed in Ontario in 1971 and, by the time of the first Atlas, small populations had become regular (James 1987). The second Ontario atlas showed little change in distribution (James 2007b). Results from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) from throughout North America, where the data are based largely on birds in the United States, indicate that the continental population has increased by an estimated 48% since the early 1970s. The magnitude of increase is highest during the most recent period (2006-2016). Available BBS results for the states bordering Ontario range from increases in Michigan and Ohio, to relatively stable populations in New York and Pennsylvania (Smith, A.R., ECCC, unpublished data). However, it is unclear to what extent these results reflect the status of the species in Canada. Because of the lack of information on the species' population status in Canada, a population goal has not yet been established for this species.

 

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/groupGoalLower levelUpper level
White-eyed VireoTo be determinedTo be determinedNot applicable

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime Period Table 1 - footnote 1 Annual trend Table 1 - footnote 2 Limits
LowerUpper
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20160.90.71
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 2006-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis2006-20161.40.91.8
 

References

  • Hopp, S.L., A. Kirby and C.A. Boone. 1995. White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Hopp, S.L., A. Kirby and C.A. Boone. 1995. White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. (Link)
  • James, R. 1987. White-eyed Vireo. pp. 344-345 in: Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario. Cadman, M.D., P.F.J. Eagles, and F.M. Helleiner, Eds. Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Long Point Bird Observatory, University of Waterloo Press, Ontario.
  • James, R. 2007b. White-eyed Vireo. pp. 364-365 in: Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005. Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, D. Lepage and A.R. Couturier, Eds. Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ontario Nature, Toronto, Ontario.