Diet

What do eastern wood-pewees eat?

Flying insects taken in sallies from a bare branch.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens

Spring and summer diet

  • Flies, wasps, bees, moths and beetles

Fall and winter diet

  • Migrates to South America

Best feeder foods

  • None — open woodland perches are the draw

Returns to the same bare perch after every sally; keeps singing through the hot midday hours.

Which feeder works best for eastern wood-pewees →

Frequently asked

What do eastern wood-pewees eat?

Flying insects taken in sallies from a bare branch.

What is the best food to feed eastern wood-pewees?

None — open woodland perches are the draw.

What do eastern wood-pewees eat in winter?

Migrates to South America.

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.