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Breeding Range. (Fig. 136). Common in the Turtle Mountains, in the Pembina Hills (within Cavalier, Pembina, and Walsh Counties), in the wooded deltaic sand area of western Pembina County, in the wooded hills and lake shores of the Devils Lake area (southern Ramsey County and eastern Benson County), in wooded valleys along the Red River and its tributaries (including the stretch of the Sheyenne River extending upstream to north-central Eddy County), and along the Missouri River from Garrison Dam downstream to a point about 10 miles below Bismarck (including lower portions of adjoining tributaries); fairly common in wooded valleys along the James River (between Jamestown and Grand Rapids), along the Mouse and Des Lacs rivers (within McHenry, Ward, and Renville Counties), along the lower stretch of the Missouri River and adjoining tributaries (within Emmons and Sioux Counties and southeastern Morton County), along the upper stretch of the Missouri River and adjoining lower portions of tributaries (above the mouth of the Little Missouri River), along the Little Missouri River (upstream to Marmarth), and in the Killdeer Mountains of Dunn County; uncommon and local elsewhere in the state.

Breeding Habitat. During the breeding season, this species is restricted to various types of deciduous forest, particularly stands of deciduous trees with fairly dense, closed canopies. It inhabits natural forest types on river floodplains and on the upland, and also occurs in mature tree-claims that are located in the eastern fourth of the state.

Nesting. Breeding season: Early June to late August; peak, mid-June to early August. Egg dates (2 nests): June 10 [1915] in Walsh County (R. Kellogg) and June 18 [1963] in Stutsman County (RES). Extreme dates of dependent young out of the nest (4 records): August 4 [1966] in Ransom County (P. F. Springer) and August 27 [1961] in Stutsman County (RES).

On June 18, 1963, a nest containing four eggs was situated about 8 feet above the ground on a drooping branch of an American elm along the James River at Jamestown (RES). During 1967-1969, six active nests were found in the Turtle Mountains by Calvin Cink.

Figure 136. Breeding Range of Red-eyed Vireo.