Vireo Collecting String to Build a Nest

In the morning, we looked out the deck door windows and saw a strange sight. A charming little bird was attempting to pull strings off something hanging on the clothes line.

It was not having much luck, so my husband went out with scissors and cut the strings so the bird could have them. Of course, when he approached the area, the little bird left. We did not see if it came back to get the strings. Clearly, it was collecting materials to build a nest.

Friends have identified this bird as a vireo. We thought at first a warbler, but on second look, we think it is a red-eyed vireo. It prefers deciduous forests with large leaves such as maples where it may find many tasty caterpillars to eat.

Here is a song for a bird building a nest: Sarah McLachlan, with Building a Mystery.