Greater Pewee (Contopus pertinax)

Distribution

Breeding: Northern extent of range reaches southwestern United States in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, extends south to northern Nicaragua. Because of the topography of the area, range is not continuous, but broken by deep river valleys and low elevation areas.

Winter: Pacific slope lowlands from southern Sonora to Guatemala. Many individuals remain in breeding habitat all year, especially in southern part of range, while others migrate geographically or altitudinally to winter in riparian vegetation. In Mexico, some winter in riparian vegetation in foothills and lowlands.

Breeding habitat

Open pine woodland, typically with oak understory; in northern part of range this habitat is usually found at elevations from 6,800–9,800 feet (2,100–3,000 meters). Found in riparian vegetation surrounded by pine-oak woodland, but not where adjacent vegetation is open grassland or scrub.

Conservation status

This species is of moderate conservation importance, primarily because of its limited overall range, low breeding density, and its association with mature pine forests. Populations are not well monitored, and precise habitat and area requirements of this species are poorly known.

Description

Male: Overall grayish-olive above, yellowish-white underneath, does not show as much contrast below as the similar Olive-sided Flycatcher. Also, tail is longer, bill thinner, and crest more pointed than Olive-sided Flycatcher. The slender crest is often visible, the broad, flat bill is two toned: upper mandible is dark, the lower is orange.

Female: Same as adult male.

Juvenile: Very similar to adults, but are plain gray underneath and may show two buffy wing bars.

Vocalizations

Songs: Functional song, used in territorial defense and mate attraction, is a plaintive Ho-say ma-ree-ah. Most often heard in breeding habitat; only males reported singing.

Calls: Difficult to distinguish from other members of the genus Contopus. Repeated pip or peep, beep-beep may be a contact call, heard during foraging with a mixed flock of warblers and nuthatches. Also gives a quip-quip.

Foraging strategy

Sits erect, often on a tree-top perch, turning head from side to side watching for flying insects; sallies, or flies rapidly from perch to catch insect, then returns to same perch. Moves around large feeding area from one perch to another, which are often several hundred meters apart; flights are generally > 50 feet (16 meters). In hot weather feeds most actively in early morning and late afternoon.

Diet

Only general information exists on diet, seems to mainly consist of flying invertebrates. In winter, a wider variety of invertebrates and berries.

Behavior and displays

• Rarely seen on ground, but will land to gather nest material.

• Flies rapidly and maneuvers actively.

• A single Greater Pewee is often included in flocks largely composed of resident and wintering wood-warblers.

• If a second Greater Pewee tries to join the flock, a noisy confrontation occurs, lasting until the intruder or original flock member is expelled.

Courtship

• No information on courtship displays, copulation, extra-pair copulations, or duration and maintenance of pair bond.

Nesting

Nest Site: Nests trees are primarily mature pine and oak, will also use mature sycamore, spruce, and maple. Typically placed in the fork of a branch, and nests built on large limbs are typically placed closer to the tip of the branch than to the trunk.

Height: Average nest height about 35 feet (10.5 meters).

Nest: Composed mostly of grass, shredded bark, and pine needles with a few twigs, male pine cones, pewee contour feathers, oak catkins, and insect material intermixed. Lichens and spider webs cover outside of nest, spider silk may attach nest to main branch and supporting side branches.

Eggs: 3–4 dull white or creamy white eggs are sparingly marked with brown towards the larger end.

Incubation period: No information.

Nestling period: Young are altricial at hatching, both adults appear to feed nestlings. No information on brooding, although only female reported to have a brood patch.

Fledgling period: Young are barely able to fly when they leave the nest, both adults tend to fledglings. Length of fledgling stage variable. After fledging, young and attending parents begin moving to lower elevations.

Broods: No information.

Cowbird Parasitism: No records of brood parasitism.