Eastern Wood Pewee

Life Cycle

The Eastern Wood Pewee has a fascinating life cycle typical of many migratory songbirds:

• Breeding and Nesting Stage: Eastern Wood Pewees breed in deciduous and mixed forests across eastern North America, from Canada to Mexico. The breeding season typically begins in late spring to early summer. The male establishes a territory and attracts a mate through singing. The female builds the nest in a tree constructed of grasses, moss, bark, and other plant materials, and lined with softer materials like feathers and hair.

• Egg Stage: The female lays a clutch of usually 2-4 eggs. She then incubates the eggs for about 12-14 days. During this time, both parents participate in feeding and caring for the eggs.

• Nestling Stage: Once the eggs hatch, the young pewees, called nestlings, are born. Both parents feed the nestlings a diet primarily consisting of insects. The nestlings grow rapidly, and within about two weeks, they are ready to leave the nest.

• Fledging: Fledging typically occurs around 14-16 days after hatching. The young Eastern Wood Pewees leave the nest, though they may still depend on their parents for food for some time as they learn to hunt for food on their own. During this period, they continue to develop their flight and hunting skills.

• Dispersal and Migration: After fledging, the young birds disperse from the nesting area. Eastern Wood Pewees are migratory birds, so they undertake a long journey to their wintering grounds in Central and northern South America. The timing and route of migration can vary among individuals, but they generally migrate at night, using stars and Earth's magnetic field for navigation.

• Wintering: During the winter months, Eastern Wood Pewees inhabit tropical forests in Central and northern South America. They feed on a variety of insects found in these habitats. Then as winter ends and spring approaches, Eastern Wood Pewees migrate back to their breeding grounds in North America to begin the cycle again.