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March 19, 2024

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Friday, January 28, 2022

Bird of the Week – Western Wood-Pewee

There are three species in this genus this small flycatchers, but only one, the Western Wood-Pewee, is commonly found in Alaska.

Western Wood-Pewee, Creamer's Refuge, Fairbanks

Western Wood-Pewee, Creamer’s Refuge, Fairbanks

This is a small, drab bird, but the slight crest, indistinct or missing eye ring and whitish belly and throat make it fairly easy to identify in field. At least is you are outside the range of Eastern Wood Pewees, and happily, in Alaska we are.

Western Wood-Pewee, Farmer's Loop Road, Fairbanks

Western Wood-Pewee, Farmer’s Loop Road, Fairbanks

Fairbanks is near the northerly limit of the species’ documented breeding range. They winter in Central and northern South America. Any bird that eats mosquitoes is a winner, in WC’s thinking. Which makes the Western Wood-Pewee a pretty cool bird.

For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.

Comments

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Comments
5 Responses to “Bird of the Week – Western Wood-Pewee”
  1. mike from iowa says:

    OT- after having nearly 2000 veterans show up in North Dakota to form a cordon around water protectors, the Corp of Engineers denied DAPL the permits needed to bore under Lake Oahe and now the pipeline is shutdown until Drumpf steps in and protects his investments. DAPL and the Corp are supposed to seek alternate routes but it is my belief ETP will bide their time until Drumpf gets coronated and then go full frontal assault on the Mighty Missouri River.

  2. juneaudream says:

    I must say..the peewee..has the most..delicate ‘bit of a beak overhang’..and that is a..curious thing. Loving it..and the smallish..’rock-star..fro..above its head? SOOoo..cool!

  3. Alaska has Wood Frogs. They famously freeze solid – seriously, frogsicles – during the winter. Southeastern Alaska has a species of salamander. That’s it for amphibians. No reptiles.

    • mike from iowa says:

      Thanks, WC. I’m gonna have to think about the no reptiles part for a while.
      Seems strange there are no other amphibians. There must be some somewhere that can handle brackish water. iowa can get pretty cold in winter and the ground can freeze down several feet and our toads and frogs survive. I find toads in my garden in the spring when it gets tilled. They are only buried about 6 inches deep.

  4. mike from iowa says:

    OT, but, since you mentioned eating skeeters does Alaska have frogs and toads? I have never heard anyone mention them and I know they eat skeeters by the handfulls.