The Eastern Wood-Pewee is a small, inconspicuous bird that belongs to the Tyrant Flycatcher family. This bird can be identified by its olive-brown upperparts, pale throat and belly, and darker wings with two white wing bars.
Basic Description:
The Eastern Wood-Pewee is about 6 inches long and has a wingspan of approximately 9-10 inches. It has a round head and short bill which helps it catch insects in mid-flight. The female looks very similar to the male but may have slightly duller colors.
Where To Find This Bird:
Eastern Wood-Pewees breed across eastern North America from Canada down to northern Florida. They typically migrate to South America for winter months.
Habitat:
This species prefers deciduous forests or mixed woodlands with plenty of trees for perching on branches where they can spot prey below them.
Food:
As their name suggests, these birds are flycatchers that use their keen eyesight while sitting high in tree tops waiting for flying insects like flies, mosquitoes or beetles to pass by so that they can swoop down on them mid-air.
Cool Facts:
1) The Eastern Wood-Pewee’s call sounds like “pee-a-wee”which makes it easy identify.
2) These birds help control insect populations making them beneficial for agricultural areas.
3) Despite being small, Pewees play an important role in the ecosystem as predators of harmful insects.
Overall, the Eastern Wood-Pewee may seem ordinary at first glance but proves itself useful in many ways through its unique hunting skills and contribution towards pest control.
