Cuban Pewee Contopus caribaeus Scientific name definitions

The resident Cuban Pewee, which is appropriately also named the Crescent-eyed Pewee, is restricted to several of the Bahamas and Cuba, where it is found across the main island, as well as on the Isle of Youth and many of the offshore cays. It occurs in all types of woodland from sea level to the highest elevations. As many as five subspecies are sometimes recognized within Cuba alone, with an additional subspecies in the Bahamas, and these generally differ in their overall coloration. This flycatcher is easily identified throughout its range by its small whitish crescent behind the eye, which is not shared by another pewee that occurs on passage through its breeding range, nor by any of the other, generally much larger, tyrant-flycatcher that shares the same islands. The Cuban Pewee is a generally confiding species, conspicuous both for its prolonged, descending whistle that is given virtually day-long, and its flycatching habits, typical of all pewees.

15–16·5 cm; 8·5–13·5 g (nominate) (1 Olson, S. L. (1985). Weights of some Cuban birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 105(2):68–69. Close , 2 Jiménez, A., I. García-Lau, A. González, L. Mugica, and M. Acosta (2014) Valores de masa corporal de 183 especies de aves cubanas. Revista Cubana de Ciencias Biológicas 3:22–42. Close ), 10·3–12·2 g (bahamensis) (3 Steadman, D.W., Olson, S.L., Barber, J.C., Meister, C.A. and Melvill, M.E. (1980). Weights of some West Indian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 100(2): 155–158. Close ). Nominate race has dark olive-grey crown, tufted crest; slightly paler loral area, whitish crescent around rear of eye (extending to slight tip posteriorly); ear-coverts, nape and upperparts olive-brown; wings dusky brown, median and greater wing-coverts tipped pale brown to whitish-grey (two thin indistinct wingbars), outer secondaries and tertials edged whitish; short primary projection; tail dusky; throat pale grey, slightly tinged buff; breast beige-grey, washed olive on side of upper breast, belly and undertail-coverts more buffy mustard-yellow; iris dark; bill broad, flat, maxilla black, mandible orange-yellow; legs black. Sexes similar. Juvenile resembles adult, but wingbars broader and buffy white, lower mandible paler. Race bahamensis is duller and greyer than nominate, paler above, less contrast between crown and back, paler below, only slight yellow tinge on belly; nerlyi is intermediate between previous and nominate, largely buffish below; morenoi resembles last.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Broadleaf and pine (Pinus) forests, forest edge, swamps, mangroves, brushy scrub, and tree plantations. Sea-level to 1800 m; rarer at high elevations.

Resident.

Mainly insects; some fruit. Searches from low perch; sallies out to capture prey in the air (sometimes with loud snap of bill), often returning to same perch; shakes or flicks tail upon landing.

Generally rather vocal, often throughout day. Song a prolonged descending “weeeooooo”. Call a repeated “weet” or “dee”; also softer “dep” or “vi-vi” note, reminiscent of Myiarchus sagrae. Dawn song (nominate race) a high squeaky whistle, “eeah, ooweeah”, usually given sequentially; in Bahamas (bahamensis), a “dee-dee” phrase is added to the “eeah, ooweeah” series.

Feb–Mar in Bahamas, Mar–Jun in Cuba. Nest a cup made of fine rootlets and hair, covered by lichen and moss, typically placed in fork of tree or shrub or on branch. Clutch 2–4 eggs; no other information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Common. Widespread from coast to moderate elevations. Occurs in Güira National Park, in Cuba.