Perch Supply
Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus virens. Flying insects taken in sallies from a bare branch.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
Scientific name
Contopus virens
Length
5.5–6.3 in
Weight
0.4–0.7 oz
Nest
Shallow lichen-covered cup on a horizontal branch
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–4 eggs
Incubation
12–14 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Grey-olive with two dull wing bars
  • Peaked crown and long wings
  • No eye-ring

Voice

The plaintive, slurred 'pee-a-wee' that names it.

Diet and feeding

Flying insects taken in sallies from a bare branch.

What do eastern wood-pewees eat? · Best feeder for eastern wood-pewees

Eastern Wood-Pewees by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
New BrunswickSummer breederJune–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederJune–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederJune–July
QuebecSummer breederJune–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
TexasSummer breederApril–July
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do eastern wood-pewees eat?

Flying insects taken in sallies from a bare branch. At feeders: none — open woodland perches are the draw.

How big is a Eastern Wood-Pewee?

5.5–6.3 in long and 0.4–0.7 oz.

Do eastern wood-pewees use birdhouses?

No. Shallow lichen-covered cup on a horizontal branch.

Sources

  1. Eastern Wood-Pewee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Eastern Wood-Pewee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Eastern Wood-Pewee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.