ML456659241

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

We all (lucas Stephenson, Lucas Corneliussen, and Derek ) heard the distinct call of an Eastern Wood-Pewee near the Southeast end of the Central Park pond at approximately (35.1289168, -117.9418799). The call was the typical long/extended and rising slurred second syllable purreeeee with a slight dip in pitch at the end. This call is distinctly different from the Western Pewee who’s call is shorter and level in pitch ending with a slight dip in pitch. See Merlin’s sonograms or xeno-canto for examples of the differences in the sonograms. We were all very familiar with the call and rushed following the pond edge toward the SE corner to locate the bird and shortly thereafter heard a second distinct extended and rising purreee call. This 2nd call helped us to finally locate the bird that was flycatching and choosing perches in the top of a Cypress and Mulberry trees across the pond within the housing development. Our observations and photos show a bright Wood-Pewee with an extremely light throat and belly and a much fainter vest than is typical for most westerns. The wing bars and long primary wing projection go without saying. The lower mandible showed extensive yellow/orange from most angles. We will post our photos upon returning home. Since plumage is not a safe method for IDing the Wood-pewees, we hope our description of the unique, extended and rising in pitch call note which is the only decisive method in separating these 2 species is sufficient for this ID. This call note was identical to the Eastern Wood-Pewee we viewed last Fall at Point Reyes that called continuously and I have heard many Eastern calls during my early years birding and leading walks at Cornell. We waited for over an hour hoping to record the call note and Derek waited most of the afternoon but the Pewee never called again despite flycatching and perching in his favorite trees. Hopefully someone else who lives locally will have the opportunity in the next day or two to capture a recording.

Technical information

Model

ILCE-7RM3

Lens

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

ISO

1250

Focal length

600 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

3809 pixels x 2276 pixels

Original file size

1.56 MB