In 2025 in southern Ontario spring came grudgingly and slowly. An occasional sunny day in May would have qualified as lovely and warm–if it had been in April. It was quite cool and breezy for May. The migrating birds were held back by steady winds in the wrong directions but as soon as conditions improved, warblers, vireos and flycatchers flooded into the parks. Almost as soon as they arrived, one pair of Vireos set to work building a beautiful little hanging nest in a maple tree not far from a path.

How Did I Notice Such a Small Simple Hidden Bird’s Nest?

A rather battered European Common Blue was an unexpected butterfly in the wood lot.

As is common for me, I found this nest more by good luck than by good planning. A small butterfly startled me by fluttering up from the path and landing on a tree trunk. I stopped to photograph it and then sat on my Mom’s rollator walker to rest my leg and look around for any other discoveries. Imagine my surprise when I realized I was looking straight at a bird’s nest.

What Bird Made This Small Nest Hanging from a Maple Branch?

While looking at the nest, I compared it to other nest’s I have found. It was too large for a hummingbird, and they nest on top of branches not under them. It was similar in size to the Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher nest, but their nest was also on top of a branch. A Baltimore Oriole makes a hanging nest but it is much bigger than this one.

A Red-eyed Vireo Peeks at Me Over the Edge of It’s Hanging Nest

Just then, the mother bird became curious enough to peek out of the nest to see what the funny camera noises meant. After snapping a couple of quick photos, I moved further up the path to let her relax.

I recognized her, though. She was a Red-eyed Vireo. As if to prove the point, her partner arrived and started singing from another nearby tree.

Later on, I checked the AllAboutBirds website and confirmed that Red-eyed Vireos do make a hanging nest, usually underneath leaves to disguise it.

I hope these two are successful in their nesting attempts. Although the nest is visible from the path, it is far from obvious. Several people walked by it with their dogs while I was looking at some wildflowers. There was an ominous number of Common Grackles, Blackbirds and Blue Jays in the park but luckily they were so busy getting stuffed on caterpillars they may not have noticed either.

How many caterpillars can this guy get in his beak at once?!

I’ll hope to see chicks on a future visit!

Related Reading

• Red-necked Grebes Have Zebra Chicks
• A Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher Nest Looks Like a Tuna Can Covered in Lichens
• Bluebirds Nested Long Before Nest Boxes Were Invented
• Baltimore Oriole Collects Nesting Materials
• Red-breasted Nuthatches Build a Home

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Have you found a nest this year? Please share your fun find with a comment.