What does the Eastern Wood-Pewee song sound like?
Contopus virens
Song Common
Play the real Eastern Wood-Pewee song, the "pee-a-WEE…PEET-tuh-wee", and learn what to listen for.
“pee-a-WEE…PEET-tuh-wee”
What the Eastern Wood-Pewee song sounds like
A clear, plaintive two-part whistle, the first note descending, the second rising slightly, given repeatedly every few seconds.
“pee-a-WEE…PEET-tuh-wee”
Birders often file this one under Primary Song.
How to find the bird singing it
Open understory and mid-canopy of mature deciduous, mixed, and pine forests; woodland edges, small clearings, and shaded rural groves.
- Gray-olive Upperparts: Head, back, and tail uniform grayish olive with little contrast.
- Pale Wingbars: Two narrow, whitish wingbars stand out against darker wings.
- Dusky Bill Pattern: Lower mandible orange-yellow with dark tip; upper mandible entirely dark.
When you'll hear it
Breeding (Summer)
Most abundant; males sing persistent "pee-a-WEE" from sunrise until dusk.
Migration (Spring/Fall)
Moves singly or in loose groups through woodlands and coastal habitats.
Non-breeding (Winter)
Occupies foothill forests of the northern Andes; silent and inconspicuous.
Don’t confuse it with
Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.
Eastern Wood-Pewee song FAQ
What does an Eastern Wood-Pewee song sound like?
A clear, plaintive two-part whistle, the first note descending, the second rising slightly, given repeatedly every few seconds. Birders write it as "pee-a-WEE…PEET-tuh-wee".
How do I tell an Eastern Wood-Pewee from a Eastern Phoebe by ear?
Eastern Phoebe: Phoebe bobs tail frequently; Lacks crisp wingbars.
When is the best time to hear the Eastern Wood-Pewee song?
Arrives on breeding grounds late April–May, sings and nests through August, then departs southward August–September. On wintering grounds October–March.
More Eastern Wood-Pewee sounds
Eastern Wood-Pewee: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?