Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
The Western Wood-Pewee is often found conspicuously perched in the woodlands of Western USA, from Texas, west to California, and north to Alaska and the prairies of Canada. In winter, these birds abandon the North American continent and fly to northwestern South America.
The nearly identical Eastern Wood-Pewee’s range does not overlap the range of these western cousins except for a small region in the Great Plains. Their songs are quite different and are a reliable means to tell them apart.
Today, taxonomists call out four subspecies of Western Wood-Pewee:
- C. s. saturatus breeds from southeastern Alaska south through British Columbia to western Oregon. They spend winters in Colombia and Venezuela.
- C. s. veliei breeds from eastern Alaska south into northern Mexico. They probably spend winters in Peru, Bolivia, and northern Argentina.
- C. s. peninsulae breeds in southern Baja California (Mexico). They probably spend winters in northwestern South America.
- C. s. sordidulus breeds in Mexico and Central America. They spend winters in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The western USA has provided me with rewarding encounters with Western Wood-Pewees. I’ve met them in California, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico. I’ve found these birds accommodating to my efforts to capture images. While some flycatchers, such as the Olive-Sided Flycatcher, often remain at the highest of perches, Western Wood-Pewees like to forage in mid-canopy. This makes it easier on the photographer.
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Upper Owens River Valley, near Lake Crowley. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:05:29 14:00 |
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Location:
Whitmore Hot Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD9001-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 11:59 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD_1209WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 11:44 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_1204WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:24 14:27 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_0530WestWoodPewee |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:03 12:15 |
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Location:
Vista Grande |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/90 |
File Name: JCD9485.WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Along the Santa Rosa Truck Trail, on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:10 8:17 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2200-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-imaging.com) |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Captured near Kamiah, Northern Idaho USA 2005-05-27. |
Date Taken: 2005:05:27 6:31 |
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Location:
East Kamiah |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD2571WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Ramona Grasslands Preserve, Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:17 7:06 |
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Location:
Ramona Grassland Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X7241-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Ramona Grasslands Preserve, Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:17 7:05 |
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Location:
Grasslands Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X7224-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Ramona Grasslands Preserve, Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:17 7:05 |
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Location:
Ramona Grassland Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7220-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: A watchful parent bird at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:15 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6935-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Parent with juvenile at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:12 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6932-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Juvenile at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:11 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6926-WesternWoodPewee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:27 13:07 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X5477-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:27 13:07 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X5475-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Driving along the Tularosa River near Apache Creek, New Mexico, I stopped at a likely looking location to look for birds, where this Western Wood-Pewee was the first bird to meet me. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:20 12:33 |
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Location:
Tularosa River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D508978-ApacheCreek-NM |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Driving along the Tularosa River near Apache Creek, New Mexico, I stopped at a likely looking location to look for birds, where this Western Wood-Pewee was the first bird to meet me. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:20 12:33 |
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Location:
Tularosa River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D509005-ApacheCreek-NM |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Driving along the Tularosa River near Apache Creek, New Mexico, I stopped at a likely looking location to look for birds, where this Western Wood-Pewee was the first bird to meet me. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:20 12:33 |
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Location:
Tularosa River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D509012-ApacheCreek-NM |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Driving along the Tularosa River near Apache Creek, New Mexico, I stopped at a likely looking location to look for birds, where this Western Wood-Pewee was the first bird to meet me. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:20 12:32 |
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Location:
Tularosa River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D508963-ApacheCreek-NM |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Lower Rock Creek between Lake Crowley and Round Valley in the Eastern Sierras. Mono County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:07 9:59 |
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Location:
Lower Rock Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D5X7832 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Agua Dulce Creek, near the Sunrise Highway, South Of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:09 12:03 |
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Location:
Agua Dulce Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X1399-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Agua Dulce Creek, near the Sunrise Highway, South Of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:09 12:12 |
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Location:
Agua Dulce Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1414-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Agua Dulce Creek, near the Sunrise Highway, South Of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:09 12:15 |
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Location:
Agua Dulce Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1429-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Parent with juvenile at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:12 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6932-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Twin Lakes in Mammoth California elevation 8625 feet. Mono County California in the eastern Sierras. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:18 10:07 |
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Location:
Twin Lakes |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D5X9893-TwinLakes |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Twin Lakes in Mammoth California elevation 8625 feet. Mono County California in the eastern Sierras. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:18 10:08 |
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Location:
Twin Lakes |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D5X9916-TwinLakes |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Lower Rock Creek between Lake Crowley and Round Valley in the Eastern Sierras. Mono County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:07 10:03 |
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Location:
Lower Rock Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D5X7895 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: I used my second day of clear weather to explore Lake Lebarge, north of Whitehorse. I visited the lake near a boat-launch and found many of the ‘usual suspects’ like Western Wood-Pewees. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:16 11:23 |
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Location:
Lake Laberge |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_8500665LakeLebarge.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: I used my second day of clear weather to explore Lake Lebarge, north of Whitehorse. I visited the lake near a boat-launch and found many of the ‘usual suspects’ like Western Wood-Pewees. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:16 11:21 |
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Location:
Lake Laberge |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_8500633LakeLebarge.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: I used my second day of clear weather to explore Lake Lebarge, north of Whitehorse. I visited the lake near a boat-launch and found many of the ‘usual suspects’ like Western Wood-Pewees. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:16 11:20 |
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Location:
Lake Laberge |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_8500612LakeLebarge.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: After three days of rain, I took the opportunity to walk the river trails on each side of the Yukon River in Whitehorse looking for Arctic Terns. During my search, I met a Western Wood-Pewee. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:15 12:19 |
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Location:
Riverdale |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPeWee_8509634-Whitehorse.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: After three days of rain, I took the opportunity to walk the river trails on each side of the Yukon River in Whitehorse looking for Arctic Terns. During my search, I met a singing Western Wood-Pewee. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:15 12:18 |
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Location:
Riverdale |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPeWee_8509619-Whitehorse.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: After three days of rain, I took the opportunity to walk the river trails on each side of the Yukon River in Whitehorse looking for Arctic Terns. During my search, I met a Western Wood-Pewee coughing up an insect carcase. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:15 12:18 |
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Location:
Riverdale |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPeWee_8509613-Whitehorse.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: The woods along the shore of Crystal Lake provided meetings with songbirds, such as this Western Wood-Pewee. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:31 14:58 |
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Location:
Crystal Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_8505221-CrystalLake.GrandePrairie |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Santa Margarita River Trail near Fallbrook, California. North San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:01 11:01 |
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Location:
Santa Margarita Trail |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5541-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 13:54 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5383-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Santa Margarita River Trail near Fallbrook, California. North San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:01 11:01 |
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Location:
Santa Margarita Trail |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5546-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Willard Bay State Park is an area separated from the Great Salt Lake by an earthen dam that stores excess fresh water from the Ogden and Weber Rivers for agricultural use. Located 12 miles north of Ogden Utah. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:19 7:45 |
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Location:
Willard Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_D5X7585-WillardBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Upper Nate Harrison Grade on Palomar Mountain. Northern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:29 13:38 |
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Location:
Nate Harrison Grade |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X8656-WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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