Greater Pewee
Contopus pertinax
Large, drab flycatcher with spiky crest. Few defining plumage marks; overall brownish-gray with slightly paler belly and faint wingbars. Bill is long with orange lower mandible. Similar to Olive-sided Flycatcher but drabber without contrasting vest. Separated from wood-pewees by crest and longer bill. Native to Mexico and northern Central America; found in mountainous forests, usually with conifers. Limited range in U.S. Often perches conspicuously and sings its clear whistled “Jose Maria” song.
Identification
This species is slightly longer than the olive-sided flycatcher. The adult greater pewee is the largest breeding Contopus flycatcher to breed in the U.S. It is a dull gray-brown bird all over with some birds that have a buff wash on the breast. They have indistinct wingbars and a very distinct crest. The lower mandible is bright orange and that is an easy way to distinguish them from olive-sided flycatchers in eastern Arizona and west central New Mexico. They are 8 inches (20 cm) long, have a 13 inches (33 cm) wingspan and weigh 1 oz (28 g).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Contopus pertinax
- Authority
- Cabanis & Heine, 1860
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Contopus
Range and habitat
The greater pewee prefers montane pine forests with an oak understory. Also found in montane deciduous especially Arizona sycamore forests and mixed montane oak-pine forest. They are found more easily in elevations over 6,500 feet in Arizona and New Mexico. They are rare in western Texas. The greater pewee is found year-round in central and southern Mexico south through Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It breeds from central Mexico north to southeast and central Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Rarely does it reach southern California, southern Nevada or western Texas.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
These birds love to stay high in trees scanning for insects. They sally and hawk insects from their high perches. The greater pewee defends its nesting grounds aggressively. They will attack hawks, jays and squirrels. Their diet consists of insects and maybe berries in cooler months. Their song is a whistled five syllables: deelip deeree! ah or famously known as jose maria. The opening deelip is repeated several times before the rest of the song. It also gives pip calls like the olive-sided flycatcher.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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