Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) lives in open woodland across Western North America. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Western Wood-Pewee
- A western wood-pewee fits on a ruler like a tiny ruler itself: it measures just 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm) long, weighs a feather-light 0.4-0.5 oz (11-14 g) and spreads its wings to a modest 10.2 in (26 cm) span. Those dimensions make it, yet its agile body lets it dart out from mid-tree perches to snatch insects mid-air.
- From egg to fledgling, a western wood-pewee's family timeline is a rapid sprint: the female lays 2-4 eggs, the clutch incubates for roughly 12 days, and by day 7 the chicks have grown all their feathers. They leave the nest after a fledging period of 14-18 days, often departing within three days of that window.
- Every autumn, western wood-pewees embark on a continent-spanning trek, leaving their western North American breeding grounds for winter homes as far south as Panama. Their range stretches from east central Alaska and northwestern Minnesota down through southern Baja, then leaps across the equator to the neotropical zone. This long-distance migration links temperate forests to tropical fields, making the species a vital thread in insect-control webs across two biogeographic realms.
- When building a nest, western wood-pewees choose lofty spots: branches at least 5-12 meters above ground, whether dead or alive, support their shallow cup woven from fibers, grasses, lichens, spider webs and shredded bark. This high perch also camouflages it as a stub on the branch, reducing the chance that blue jays or hawks will spot the vulnerable eggs and nestlings.
- Although classified as Least Concern, western wood-pewee numbers show a mixed picture: surveys record increases in Washington but declines in British Columbia and Oregon, likely tied to habitat loss on breeding and wintering grounds. Their reliance on dry, open woodlands and specific nesting heights.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeWestern North America
HabitatOpen woodland
DietInsects and spiders
About the Western Wood-Pewee
In the dappled light of a forest glade, the Western Wood-Pewee flits with effortless ease, its slate-grey plumage blending seamlessly into the shadows as it pursues its incessant quest for insects. With a twitch of its tail and a flick of its wing, this diminutive bird dances through the trees, its large, dark eyes ever-vigilant for the slightest movement, its very existence a testament to the enduring power of adaptation. As it alights upon a branch, its melancholy whistle echoes through the stillness, a haunting serenade to the secrets of the woodland realm.
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