Eastern Wood-Pewee in August
Where eastern wood-pewees are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Eastern Wood-Pewee's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Eastern Wood-Pewee specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 43 states and provinces where eastern wood-pewees occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where eastern wood-pewees are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, eastern wood-pewees are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Eastern wood-pewees are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, eastern wood-pewees put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in August
- Flies, wasps, bees, moths and beetles
Returns to the same bare perch after every sally; keeps singing through the hot midday hours.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Eastern Wood-Pewee diet guide → · Best feeder for eastern wood-pewees →
Watching eastern wood-pewees this month
Eastern wood-pewees are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region eastern wood-pewees are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Eastern Wood-Pewee month by month
Eastern Wood-Pewee by state
Frequently asked
Where are eastern wood-pewees in August?
In August, eastern wood-pewees are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do eastern wood-pewees nest in August?
No — eastern wood-pewees typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do eastern wood-pewees eat in August?
Flies, wasps, bees, moths and beetles.
Sources
- Eastern Wood-Pewee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Wood-Pewee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- 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.