Eastern Wood-Pewee

Species: Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
Family: Tyrannidae
Date: 6.24.15 (Updated photos on 7.2.15)

 Observation:  

Alice spotted the Eastern Wood-Pewee as it landed on a branch of our back-yard brush pile.  As I slowly attempted to get closer, we saw the bird sallying out (the feeding technique of looping out, catching an insect, and returning to the same or nearby perch) to catch insects five or six times in a minute.

A Fact from Alice:

Eastern Wood-Pewees are usually found in forest clearings (like our back-yard).  They are often spotted on dead branches, as they like to sit on conspicuous perches when they are foraging for insects.


A Fact from Dana:

Eastern Wood-Pewees are territorial during breading season.  A male's territory is often 5-20 acres, and a male pewee will attack other species that approach while he is singing.

Learn more at All About Birds - Eastern Wood-Pewee