THE WOOD PEWEE. 



LTHOUGH one of the most 

 abundant species, conjmon 

 all over the United States, 

 the retiring habits, plain- 

 ness of dress, and quiet 

 manners of this little bird have caused 

 it to be comparatively little known. 

 Dr. Brewer says that if noticed at all, 

 it is generally confounded with the 

 common Pewee, or Phoebe bird, 

 though a little observation is sufficient 

 to show how very distinct they are. 

 The Wood Pewee will sit almost 

 motionless for many minutes in an 

 erect position, on some dead twig or 

 other prominent perch, patiently 

 watching for its insect prey. While 

 its position is apparently so fixed, 

 however, its eyes are constantly on the 

 alert, and close watching will show 

 that the bird now and then turns its 

 head as its glance follows the course 

 of some distant insect, while anon the 

 feathers of the crown are raised, so as 

 to form a sort of blunt pyramidal 

 crest. This sentinel-like attitude of 

 the Wood Pewee is in marked contrast 

 to the restless motion of the Phoebe, 

 who, even if perched, keeps its tail 

 constantly in motion, while the bird 

 itself seldom remains long in a fixed 

 position. The notes of the two species 

 (see August Birds) are as different as 

 their habits, those of the Wood 

 Pewee being peculiarly plaintive — a 

 sort of wailing pc-c-e-e-i^ zvee, the first 

 syllable emphasized and long drawn 

 out, and the tone, a clear, plaintive, 

 wiry whistle, strikingly different from 

 the "cheerful, emphatic notes of the 

 true Pewee. 



The Wood Pewee, like all of its 

 family, is an expert catcher of insects, 

 even the most minute, and has a 

 remarkably quick perception of their 

 near presence, even when the light of 

 day has nearly gone and in the deep 

 gloom of the thick woods. Dr. Brewer 

 describes it as taking its station at the 

 end of a low dead limb, from which 



it darts out in quest of insects, some- 

 times for a single individual, which it 

 seizes with a sharp snap of its bill; 

 and, frequently meeting insect after 

 insect, it keeps up a constant snapping 

 sound as it passes on, and finally returns 

 to its post to resume its watch. While 

 watching it occasionally twitters, with 

 a quivering movement of the head and 

 tail, uttering a feeble call-note, sound- 

 ing like pec-e. 



The nest of the Wood Pewee, which 

 is always "saddled" and securely 

 attached to a rather stout branch, 

 usually lichen-covered, is said to be 

 one of the most elegant examples of 

 bird architecture. From beneath it 

 so much resembles a natural portion 

 of the limb, but for its betrayal by the 

 owner, it would seldom be discovered. 

 It is saucer-shaped, with thick walls, 

 and the whole exterior is a beautiful 

 '^ mosaic " of green, gray, and glaucous 

 lichen. The eggs are a rich delicate 

 cream color, ornamented by a "wreath'* 

 round the larger end of madder-brown, 

 purple, and lilac spots. 



The Wood Pewee has many ad- 

 mirers, a more interesting creature to 

 watch while feeding being hard to 

 imagine. Often you will find him in 

 the parks. Sitting in some quiet, 

 shady spot, if you wait, he will soon 

 show himself as he darts from the 

 fence post not far away, to return to it 

 time after time with, possibly, the 

 very insect that has been buzzing 

 about your face and made you 

 miserable. His movements are so 

 quick that even the fly cannot elude 

 him. 



And to some he is pleasant as a 

 companion. One who loves birds 

 once saw this Flycatcher flying in a 

 circle and repeating breathlessly his 

 emphatic chebec. "He sang on the 

 wing, and I have never heard notes 

 which seemed more expressive of hap- 

 piness." 



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