Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virens
Eastern and Western Wood Pewees are nearly impossible to differentiate by eye. The eastern bird’s song sounds like pee-a-wee, and is the reason this group has been so named. Both eastern and western birds maintain a preference for their side of the continent, and where each spends their summers in North America.
During winters in South America, they stay on their respective sides of the continents too. The Western Wood-Pewee winters along a narrow strip in the western mountains, and the Eastern Wood-Pewee winters in northern South America and the upper Amazon Basin.
Modern science views the Eastern Wood-Pewee as monotypic (no subspecies recognised).
My expeditions in the spring of 2020 and 2021, and the fall of 2022 to south Texas during migration provided me with ample meetings with this bird. I noticed an abundance of Eastern Phoebes in the winter months in south Texas, but when migration kicked in, the phoebes thinned out and the Eastern Wood-Pewees showed up to take their places.
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33 Photos
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
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Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:14 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D500846-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:31 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D500995-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:31 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D500998-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:20 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D502189-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:35 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D502222-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: The Eastern Wood-Pewee looks very much like its cousin the Western Wood-Pewee, but their ranges barely overlap. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 10:11 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D502161-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
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Description: Arriving with the warblers were wood pewees. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 14:24 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X7374-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe) |
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Description: This was my first time meeting the Eastern Phoebe. I was staying at Cottonwood Camp, a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:03 11:05 |
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Location:
Cottonwood Camp |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: EasternPhoebe_D5X7636-CottonwoodCamp |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees were among the earliest of the migrating flycatchers. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 13:16 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X7955-SPI_Sheepshead |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees were among the earliest of the migrating flycatchers. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 17:38 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X9200-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Small flycatchers are often a challenge for me to identify, but this bird had no other look-alikes here. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 12:42 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X9762SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Small flycatchers are often a challenge for me to identify, but this bird had no other look-alikes here. Bird activity on Tuesday’s visit to South Padre Island was slightly less hectic than it was on the weekend, but it gave me some great bird encounters, including two birds brand new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:20 12:43 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X9787SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees were among the earliest of the migrating flycatchers. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 13:16 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X7940-SPI_Sheepshead |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe) |
|
Description: This was my first time meeting the Eastern Phoebe. I was staying at Cottonwood Camp, a primitive site eight miles from the end of the road at Santa Elena Canyon. I was lucky to book a night's stay and enjoy one of the birdiest sites in Big Bend National Park. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:03 10:53 |
|
Location:
Cottonwood Camp |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: EasternPhoebe_D5X7537-CottonwoodCamp |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Other observers on hand believed this bird to be an “Empidonax” flycatcher, but when I studied the images, I could find no reason to call it anything but an Eastern Wood-Pewee. Spring visits to South Padre Island can produce unexpected results. Sometimes there are lulls in the migration, and other times there are spikes. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:29 16:58 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X3924_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| (C)2020 Jack Daynes |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees seemed to be everywhere we looked during this day of migration. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:05 14:47 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X6411_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Flycatchers are often difficult to ID, but the faint eye-ring provides a strong clue for this bird. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 11:27 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X4649_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees seemed to be everywhere we looked during this day of migration. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:05 14:47 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X6414_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees seemed to be everywhere we looked during this day of migration. Tuesday night’s winds at South Padre Island (Texas) did not produce the big warbler fallout we hoped for at the Convention Center. Still, there were several birding surprises in store for those of us who showed up to find birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:05 14:56 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_D5X6434_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees aren’t known to breed this far south in Texas, so these birds were probably on the move south to their winter homes in South America. Spend a day at the SPI Bird and Nature Center (BNC) and there will surely be some interesting birds for your entertainment. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:03 10:49 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8507972-SPI-BirdNatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees aren’t known to breed this far south in Texas, so these birds were probably on the move south to their winter homes in South America. Spend a day at the SPI Bird and Nature Center (BNC) and there will surely be some interesting birds for your entertainment. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:03 10:49 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8507977-SPI-BirdNatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Recently, Flycatchers began filtering into south Texas. Most of the meetings I’ve had have been with Eastern Wood-Pewees. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:06 12:49 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8508840-SPI.ConventionCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Recently, Flycatchers began filtering into south Texas. Most of the meetings I’ve had have been with Eastern Wood-Pewees. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:06 14:47 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8509051-SPI.ConventionCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Recently, Flycatchers began filtering into south Texas. Most of the meetings I’ve had have been with Eastern Wood-Pewees. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:06 14:35 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8508964-SPI.ConventionCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees were not the only flycatcher species on South Padre Island in September’s fall migration, but they out-numbered all the rest. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:08 16:50 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8500670-SPI.Convention.Ctr_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees were not the only flycatcher species on South Padre Island in September’s fall migration, but they out-numbered all the rest. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:07 10:22 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8509392-SPI-Convention.Ctr_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Most of the flycatchers I met on South Padre Island during this fall migration seemed to be Eastern Wood-Pewees. They were also the only ones I heard singing. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:18 12:25 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Bird and Natu |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8504528-SPI-BNC |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Most of the flycatchers I met on South Padre Island during this fall migration seemed to be Eastern Wood-Pewees. They were also the only ones I heard singing. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:18 12:24 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Bird and Natu |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8504504-SPI-BNC |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Most of the flycatchers I met on South Padre Island during this fall migration seemed to be Eastern Wood-Pewees. They were also the only ones I heard singing. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:15 8:56 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8502657-SPI.SheepheadSanctuary |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Most of the flycatchers I met on South Padre Island during this fall migration seemed to be Eastern Wood-Pewees. They were also the only ones I heard singing. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:11 14:45 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8501714-SPI.ConventionCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Most of the flycatchers I met on South Padre Island during this fall migration seemed to be Eastern Wood-Pewees. They were also the only ones I heard singing. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:11 14:41 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8501698-SPI.ConventionCentre |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
|
Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees were not the only flycatcher species on South Padre Island in September’s fall migration, but they out-numbered all the rest. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:08 12:38 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8509696-SPI.Convention.Ctr_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Wood-Pewee(Contopus virens) |
Date Taken: 2022:09:08 17:21 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island Covention Cen |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: EasternWoodPewee_8500793-SPI.Convention.Ctr_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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