vireo

noun

vir·​eo ˈvir-ē-ˌō 

plural vireos

: any of various small insectivorous American oscine birds (family Vireonidae, especially genus Vireo) that are chiefly olivaceous and grayish in color

Examples of vireo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This roughly 1-mile walk takes hikers alongside Morrison Pond, a small but scenic body of water in Bonita that’s home to waterfowl such as ruddy ducks and egrets, as well as other birds like the least bell’s vireo and coastal California gnatcatcher. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

Grace’s warbler, Nashville warbler, Bell’s vireo, summer tanager, Western tanager, black-headed grosbeak, to name a few. —Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024

At San Dieguito, that builds space for wildlife such as the light-footed Ridgway’s rail and least Bell’s vireo, two native California birds listed by the federal government as in danger of extinction. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2024

Preserving the least Bell’s vireo, of course, goes beyond the river. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, a small bird, from virēre to be green

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vireo

• red-eyed vireo

Rhymes for vireo

• buteo
• cacao

Kids Definition

vireo

noun

vir·​eo ˈvir-ē-ˌō 

plural vireos

: any of various small insect-eating American songbirds that are chiefly olive-green or grayish in color