Contopus virens
Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant and breeder east, rare central, rare casual west.
Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM10565, 4 Sep 1909 Roca, Lancaster Co.
Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022).
Hybridization between Eastern and Western Wood-Pewees does occur in a narrow contact zone, see the Western x Eastern Wood-Pewee hybrid account.
Spring: May 1, 2, 2 <<<>>> summer
We believe that published Nebraska reports prior to May 1 are likely to be of Eastern Phoebe, an early migrant, or if heard only, various calls of European Starling. The earliest South Dakota record is 28 Apr, and of the six Iowa records for Apr, all but one are for 27-29 Apr, with one for 18 Apr (eBird.org, accessed Nov 2023). The earliest Kansas specimen is 9 May (Thompson et al 2011).
The only Panhandle reports of presumed migrants are of one recorded at Chadron SP, Dawes 28 May 2020, one calling and photographed on the White River Trail, Fort Robinson SHP, Dawes Co 27 May 2021 and one at Fort Robinson, Dawes Co 10 Jun 2010. Westerly singles were at NNF Bessey, Thomas Co 31 May 2021 and 3 Jun 2017, in Custer Co 19 May 2009, 19-20 May (1-2) 2012, 26 May 2010, and 6 Jun 1989, in Dundy Co 19 May 2019 and 9 Jun 2020. There are numerous reports along the North Platte River Valley to Keith Co, westernmost in the Niobrara River Valley singles at Cottonwood Lake SRA, Cherry Co 5 Jun 1991, and at Chat Canyon WMA, Cherry Co 31 May 2015, and in the Republican River Valley westernmost was one near Bartley, Red Willow Co 28 May 2023. Reports of presumed migrants in the Medicine Creek drainage, Frontier Co are 27 May 2015, 10 May 2008 and 30 May 2010.
- High counts: 25 at Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy Co 23 May 2020, 20 there 10 May 2007, 17 at Indian Cave SP in Nemaha Co 13 May 2023, and 16 at Neale Woods, Douglas Co 27 May 2023.
Summer: Eastern Wood-Pewee is most numerous in deciduous forest along the Missouri, Elkhorn, and Platte Rivers, and within the upland oak-hickory region of the extreme southeast. Elsewhere it is found westward along major river valleys, but numbers decline rapidly, with few reports from the west since 2000. During the 20th Century, Eastern Wood-Pewee slowly extended its range to the west, resulting in contact zones with the more-rapidly eastward-expanding Western Wood-Pewee on the Niobrara River in Sheridan Co (Short 1961; Grzybowski 1988), the lower North Platte Valley in Garden, Keith (Brown et al 1996), and Lincoln Cos, and probably in Deuel Co along the South Platte River (Short 1961) although there are no reports from Deuel Co since 2000.
The species occurs west along the Niobrara River Valley to the Valentine, Cherry Co area and nearby Niobrara River tributaries. Nesting was observed in western Keya Paha Co (Mossman and Brogie 1983) and it has nested at Valentine NWR where It is “uncommon” (USFWS Checklist Valentine NWR). Recent summer reports from northeastern Cherry Co west of Valentine are of one at HS Ranch, about 13 miles south of Nenzel 27 Aug 2013, another near Nenzel 14 Aug 2022, one reported as “Eastern/Western” near Merriman 19 Aug 2012, two at Steer Creek Campground, NNF McKelvie 14 Jul 2017, and one at Prairie Club, southwest of Valentine 9 Jul 2018.
Short (1961) suggested that there may be contact between this species and Western Wood-Pewee in the Niobrara River Valley between Valentine and the Pine Ridge area, although numbers of either wood-pewee species in this area are limited (see Comments).
Rosche (1982) considered Eastern Wood-Pewee a “very rare summer visitor” in the northwest, with dates for singing birds in the period 29 Jun-28 Aug only; most sightings in the northwest are from cottonwood forest at Box Butte Reservoir, Dawes Co. Additional Dawes Co reports, probably also from Box Butte Reservoir, are 7 Jun 1996 (Grzybowski 1996), 29 Jun 1966, and 1 Jul 1968. Additional reports from the Panhandle are 9 Jul 1968 and 14 Jul 1987, both in Scotts Bluff Co (Williams 1987).
Reports from the western Sandhills are few. Fred Zeillemaker (personal communication) netted birds identified as this species near Crescent Lake in Garden Co 1-3 Jun 1980 and 12 Jul-24 Aug 1979, and singing birds were there 12-13 Jul 1982 (Williams 1979). There are a few summer reports from the Loup River drainage. In the North Loup River valley, one was at Almeria, Loup Co 1 Jul 2011 and one at the US Highway 183 crossing 14 Jun 2014. In the Middle Loup River valley and its tributary Victoria Creek, two were at NNF Bessey, Thomas Co both on 19 Aug 2014 and 3 Jun 2017, singles were there 26 Jun 2018 and 30 Jun 2019, two were there 27 Jun 2023, one was at Milburn 28 Jun 2010, and there were reports from Victoria Springs SRA, Custer Co 3 Jun 2010, 25 Jun 2004, 4 Jul 2011, 10 Jul 2010, 6 Sep 2005 and of 1-2 during Jun-Jul 2023. Along the South Loup River, two were at Pressey WMA, Custer Co 7 Aug 2010. Bray (1994) listed Eastern Wood-Pewee only as a “rare migrant” at NNF Bessey.
Although in the 1940s Tout (1947) considered Eastern Wood-Pewee “very rare” in Lincoln Co in the Platte River Valley, it now occurs west to the North Platte area, where it has been found in four summers since 2002, and the Lake McConaughy area in Keith Co. Rosche (1994) considered Eastern Wood Pewee a “casual summer visitant” in the Lake McConaughy area, and Brown et al (2012) described it as a “rare summer resident” there, noting that singing males were heard below the Keystone Diversion Dam in 1993, and that a juvenile netted 12 Aug 1993 “might have been from a nest in the area”. Rosche (1994) found a singing bird 16 Jul 1987 within 220 yards of a Western Wood-Pewee pair carrying food, and one “sang repeatedly” from cottonwood forest in Eagle Canyon, Lake McConaughy 4 Jun 1992 (Grzybowski 1992, Morris 1992, Rosche 1994). Since 2000, there have been only nine reports from the Lake Ogallala area, all probably of migrants (see Spring, Fall), although one on 18 Jun 2017 may have been a potential breeder.
Short (1961) noted Eastern Wood-Pewee breeding along the South Platte River to the Colorado border, where it was thought to make contact with Western Wood-Pewee. There are several recent occurrences along the South Platte River and elsewhere in eastern Colorado in the period May-Aug, most since 2000 (eBird.org, accessed Nov 2023).
It has been stated that this species breeds west in the Republican River Valley to Dundy Co (Johnsgard 1979, 1980), although there are only a few breeding season reports west of Harlan Co. In recent years, breeding season reports further west have increased; singles were near Oxford, Harlan Co 24 Jun 2008 and at two locations there 11 Jul 2014, and singles were in Red Willow Co prior to 2000 and 23 Jul 2010. In addition, there are several reports in the Medicine Creek drainage; this stream drains into the Republican River in extreme northwest Furnas Co. These reports extend northward into southeast Lincoln Co, where singles were found 14 Jun 2011 and 2 Aug 2011; in the lower drainage there are reports in Frontier Co, including Medicine Creek Reservoir, 10 Jun 2009, 19 Jun 1991, 23 Jun and 21 Jul 2011, and 10 Aug 2013. A few May and Aug reports in these areas may be of migrants or potential breeding birds; these dates are cited in Spring and Fall. There are two recent reports in the Republican River-Arikaree Creek drainage in extreme northwest Kansas in Sep 2013 and Sep 2015 (Bill Kaempfer post to NEBIRDS 14 Jun 2016); it breeds west to Jewell Co in Kansas (Thompson et al 2011, Busby and Zimmerman 2001), with an isolated confirmed breeding record as far west as Seward Co (Busby and Zimmerman 2001).
- Breeding Phenology:
Nest-building: 3-15 Jun
Eggs: 6 Jun- 4 Jul (Mollhoff 2022) - Incubation: 18 Jun
- Nestlings: 12 Jun-10 Jul
Fledglings: 28 Jun- 13 Sep
Fall: summer <<<>>> Oct 4, 5, 6
Later dates are 11 Oct 2011 Dixon Co, 12 Oct 2011 Douglas Co, 14 Oct 1986 Pierce Co, 17 Oct 1964 Gage Co, and 19 Oct 2009 photo Sarpy Co.
Departure is generally complete by late Sep. The latest Kansas specimen date is 23 Sep (Thompson and Ely 1992).
Only casual in the Panhandle, it may be more numerous than currently thought; identification in fall is difficult. A juvenile was captured and photographed at Oliver Reservoir, Kimball Co 31 Aug 2000; appearance (lower mandible was entirely yellow, it had a light breast-band with no vest effect) and measurements indicated this species (Dinsmore 2000, Jorgensen 2002). One was recorded at Ash Hollow SHP, Garden Co 10 Aug 2022. Singles were at Lake Ogallala 2 Sep 2006 and 20 Aug 2017.
Recent westerly reports in the Republican River drainage are 10 Aug 2014 Furnas Co, and 27 Aug 2011 Curtis, Frontier Co.
- High counts: 25 at Fontenelle Forest 6 Sep 2007, 25 at Ponca SP, Dixon Co 2 Sep 2018, and 23 at Fontenelle Forest 13 Aug 2018.
Comments: Determination of the range limits of this species and Western Wood-Pewee is difficult because of the problems of identification of the two species away from their regular breeding grounds. They are very similar in appearance, even sometimes considered conspecific (Mayr and Short 1970), and may hybridize, although probably only to a limited extent (see the Western x Eastern Wood-Pewee hybrid account). Plumage characteristics are at best suggestive, and vocalizations may be misleading, although generally species-specific if carefully heard (Rising and Schueler 1980). Short (1961) studied the wood-pewees in Nebraska, and noted that while songs usually identify these species, “occasional songs of Western Wood-Pewee are virtually indistinguishable from Eastern Wood-Pewee singing abbreviated [rather than full] songs.” Songs with the pattern of Eastern Wood-Pewee but tonal quality of Western Wood-Pewee were heard in eastern Cherry Co 21 May 1989 (Grzybowski 1989, Ducey 1989), and singing birds of both species were found “side-by-side” in Sheridan Co in 1988 (Grzybowski 1988). Both species were found breeding at Smith Lake WMA, Sheridan Co, in the period 1989-2008, although Eastern Wood-Pewee was considered “rare” (Steven Jones, personal communication). Rosche (1994) found a singing bird 16 Jul 1987 within 200 m (220 yards) of a Western Wood-Pewee pair carrying food at the west end of Lake McConaughy.
Thompson et al (2011) cited information regarding eight pewee specimens collected in southwestern Kansas 7 Jun-6 Aug; they were identified as one Eastern Wood-Pewee, five Western Wood-Pewees, and two intermediate but somewhat closer by coloration to Western Wood-Pewee.
The identification problem may not have been important earlier in the 20th century, as Swenk and Dawson (1921) indicated that Western Wood-Pewee occurred only west of the 100th meridian and its range and that of Eastern Wood-Pewee “do not anywhere meet.”
Images
Abbreviations
NNF: Nebraska National Forest
NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
SHP: State Historical Park
SP: State Park
SRA: State Recreation Area
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
USFWS: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
WMA: Wildlife Management Area (State)
Literature Cited
Bray, T.E. 1994. Habitat utilization by birds in a man-made forest in the Nebraska Sandhills. Master’s thesis. University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Brown, C.R., M.B. Brown, P.A. Johnsgard, J. Kren, and W.C. Scharf. 1996. Birds of the Cedar Point Biological Station area, Keith and Garden Counties, Nebraska: Seasonal occurrence and breeding data. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 23: 91-108.
Brown, M.B., S.J. Dinsmore, and C.R. Brown. 2012. Birds of Southwestern Nebraska. Conservation and Survey Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Busby, W.H., and J.L. Zimmerman. 2001. Kansas Breeding Bird Atlas. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Dinsmore, S.J. 2000. Mist netting at Oliver State Recreation Area. NBR 68: 177-179.
Ducey, J.E. 1989. Birds of the Niobrara River valley, Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 27: 37-60.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1988. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 42: 1308-1310.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1989. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 43: 499-501.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1992. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 46: 1151-1152.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1996. Southern Great Plains Region. Field Notes 50: 965-968.
Johnsgard, P.A. 1979. Birds of the Great Plains: breeding species and their distribution. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Johnsgard, P. A. 1980. A preliminary list of the birds of Nebraska and adjacent Great Plains states. Published by the author, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA.
Jorgensen, J.G. 2002. 2002 (sic; =2000). (12th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 70: 84-90.
Mayr, E., and L.L. Short. 1970. Species taxa of North American birds, a contribution to avian systematics. Publications of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 9. Nuttall Ornithological Club, Cambridge, Massachussetts, USA.
Mollhoff, W.J. 2022. Nest records of Nebraska birds. Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Occasional Paper Number 9.
Morris, R. 1992. Spring 1992 Occurrence Report. NBR 60: 79-149.
Mossman, M.J., and M.A. Brogie. 1983. Breeding status of selected bird species on the Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska. NBR 51: 52-62.
Rising, J.D., and F.W. Schueler. 1980. Identification and status of wood-pewees (Contopus) from the Great Plains: what are sibling species? Condor 82: 301-308.
Rosche, R.C. 1982. Birds of northwestern Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota, an annotated checklist. Cottonwood Press, Crawford, Nebraska, USA.
Rosche, R.C. 1994. Birds of the Lake McConaughy area and the North Platte River valley, Nebraska. Published by the author, Chadron, Nebraska, USA.
Short, L.L., Jr. 1961. Notes on bird distribution in the central Plains. NBR 29: 2-22.
Swenk, M.H., and R.W. Dawson. 1921. Notes on the distribution and migration of Nebraska birds I. Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae). Wilson Bulletin 33: 132-141.
Thompson, M.C., and C.A. Ely. 1989. Birds in Kansas. Vol. 1. University of Kansas Museum Natural History Publications Educational Series No. 11, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Thompson, M.C., C.A. Ely, B. Gress, C. Otte, S.T. Patti, D. Seibel, and E.A. Young. 2011. Birds of Kansas. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Tout, W. 1947. Lincoln County birds. North Platte, NE: Tout.
Williams, F. 1979. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 33: 876-877.
Williams, F. 1987. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 41: 1455-1458.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2023. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 6 Nov 2023