Riperian Corridor Birds

In many areas of Ohio where the former woodlands have been reduced to small isolated woodlots (usually no more than 10 to 50 acres), the forested stream corridors extend for miles in an unbroken band and provide a large percentage of the woodland habitats required by so many species. This is particularly true for many of Ohio's breeding bird species.

The presence or absence of key indicator species is one way to assess the quality of the riparian forests found along Ohio's scenic rivers.

Riperian Corridor Birds of Ohio

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Red-eyed VireoNeotropical migrant and summer resident

This is the most common and widely distributed of the vireos which nest in Ohio. They are found statewide in a variety of wooded habitats.

They prefer to nest in the interiors of the larger woodlands however, and within these habitats they are often the most common species in the forest bird community.

Red-eyed vireos are a common nesting species along forested riparian corridors. They are generally absent however when the riparian zone is less than 25 feet on both banks. As with most forest birds their densities are directly correlated to the size of the woodland in question.