Greater Pewee
A species of Pewees Scientific name : Contopus pertinax Genus : Pewees
Greater Pewee, A species of Pewees
Botanical name: Contopus pertinax
Genus: Pewees
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
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 (20.3 cm) long, have a 13 in (33 cm) wingspan and weigh 1 oz. (28 g). 
Size
20 cm (8 in)
Life Expectancy
6-7 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Greater Pewee predominantly consumes insects, catching them mid-flight from a high pine perch, often a dead snag. It engages in sallying behavior for foraging. Additionally, greater Pewee supplements its diet with small fruits, such as berries.
Habitat
Greater Pewee favor montane pine-oak woodlands, often found in mountainous regions and foothills below 10,000 feet. These birds demonstrate a preference for mature forest habitats, where Chihuahua pine, Ponderosa pine, Apache pine, and oak species such as Emory oak, create an open woodland environment ideal for foraging. Greater Pewee is also associated with riparian areas adorned with cottonwood, walnut, and sycamore trees at higher altitudes. While some are migratory, wintering in diverse habitats including lower elevation woodlands and riparian corridors, nonmigratory populations occupy higher elevations consistently throughout the year.
Nest Behavior
During nesting, greater Pewee constructs its nest in large pine or mature trees. The bird lays eggs in a carefully constructed cup, and both parents partake in the incubation and rearing of the young.
Nest Characteristics
Greater Pewee's nest is a cup-shaped structure about 4.7 inches wide and 2.6 inches tall, placed 30-38 feet high in mature trees. It's built with grass, pine needles, and bark, incorporating feathers and lichen, held together by spiderweb.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Sounds
Call
Recording location: Mexico
Song
Recording location: Mexico
Behavior
Greater Pewee exhibit distinct behaviors, such as perching upright on elevated snags to vigilantly scan for prey, often catching flying insects with an audible snap of their bill. Known for their territorial aggression, greater Pewee fiercely defend their nesting zone against various bird species, displaying bill-snapping and chasing, reminiscent of firecrackers. This hostility persists throughout the year, guarding feeding areas or fruiting trees but occasionally joining mixed-species flocks, where conflicts may still arise between greater Pewee. In nonbreeding seasons, they may sing to declare territory. During breeding, males persuade mates through song across extensive territories, and both parents contribute to nest-building and offspring care.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Tyrant flycatchers Genus
Pewees Species
Greater Pewee 
Download Picture Bird
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
.jpg){kind=link}