Contopus caribaeus
The Cuban Pewee (Contopus caribaeus) is a small, unassuming yet distinctive member of the tyrant flycatcher family (Tyrannidae), endemic to the Caribbean. Measuring approximately 15-16 cm (6 inches) in length and weighing between 9-15 grams, it presents a subtle palette of olive-gray on its upperparts, contrasting with a paler, sometimes yellowish-washed belly and faint streaking across the breast. Its most distinctive field marks include a slight crest giving it a peaked head appearance, a d...
Found in a variety of forest and woodland types, ranging from dry scrub to moist pine and broadleaf forests, often frequenting forest edges, clearings, and plantations. It typically inhabits low to mid-elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide range of flying insects including flies, beetles, wasps, bees, moths, and butterflies, captured via aerial sallies from an exposed perch.
Cuban Pewees are diurnal, often observed perched conspicuously on exposed branches, waiting to sally forth. They exhibit classic flycatcher foraging, launching quick, agile flights to snatch flying insects from the air before returning to their perch. During the breeding season, males establish a...
The Cuban Pewee is resident across the Greater Antilles and certain islands of the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos. Its primary range includes the main island of Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud, extending to the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman), and throughout the Bahamas, as...
Least Concern
- The name 'Pewee' is an onomatopoeia derived from the distinctive, whistled call notes of species within the Contopus genus. - Despite its small size, the Cuban Pewee is an incredibly agile and effective aerial hunter, capable of intricate maneuvers to catch insects mid-flight. - This species is...