Bird · GBIF taxon 5229734
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virensAlso known as Eastern Wood Pewee, Wood Pewee
Eastern wood-pewees are subtle woodland songbirds best known for their clear, melancholic whistling call that echoes through deciduous and mixed forest canopies. They spend their days perched on dead branches, sweeping out in brief aerial swoops to snap up flying insects before returning to the exact same vantage point. Breeding pairs build delicate, lichen-encrusted cup nests attached to horizontal tree branches, perfectly camouflaged against the bark.
SongbirdMigratoryInsectivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flies
- Beetles
- Moths
Predators
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Blue Jay
- Eastern Gray Squirrel
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, loss of wintering forest habitat, and insect decline
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, orchards, and parks
Life span5 to 7 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTyrannidae
- SpeciesContopus virens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listening for Calls: Listen for the distinct, slurred 'pee-ah-wee' song echoing from the high tree canopy.
- Spotting Flycatchers: Watch dead mid-story branches where birds repeatedly launch, catch insects, and return.
Frequent Companion no rights reserved, uploaded by Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago · cc0
Frequent Companion no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative 
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Mark Connolly · cc0
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