The Greater Pewee

Hiking from the town of Greaterville on the northeast side of the Santa Ritas is an option few people explore. To get the most out of this road trip, either check out from the library or purchase The Hiker’s Guide to the Santa Rita Mountains by Betty Leavengood and Mike Liebert, for a historical guide and self-tour.Trails from the Patagonia side of the Santa Rita Mountains are less frequently by hikers than most all of the trails in this range. This is because of accessibility; however, if you have four-wheel drive, you will be treated to a quiet experience with few visitors. Not only will you see many bird species, but often herds of deer. View the list »
Madera Canyon is a popular birding locations, attracting visitors from all over the world. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider taking a drive to the east side of the mountains for a much quieter experience. Gardner Canyon is one option, and since the roads are fairly well maintained you probably would not need four-wheel drive. High clearance, however, is a good idea.

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The Greater Pewee is a resident of the Santa Rita Mountains, breeding at higher elevations among pines and conifers. This is a large flycatcher, with a body of olive-gray and a white throat. The breast is also gray, leading to a yellow stomach. There is a crest on the head. The beak is wide and flat, with the lower part orange and the upper part dark gray. The wings and tail are both dark gray.

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The Greater Pewee sometimes will hang out with a completely different species, and while doing so, prefers to be the only Pewee in the group, running off any intruders. They also are very aggressive in defending their nests, chasing off birds much larger than they are, as well as running off snakes and squirrels.

Their distinctive call is one you will not forget once you hear it; and it was often used as background sounds for Hollywood Westerns.

Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999; whatbird.com

View the list
  • Madera Canyon is a popular birding locations, attracting visitors from all over the world. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider taking a drive to the east side of the mountains for a much quieter experience. Gardner Canyon is one option, and since the roads are fairly well maintained you probably would not need four-wheel drive. High clearance, however, is a good idea.
  • Trails from the Patagonia side of the Santa Rita Mountains are less frequently by hikers than most all of the trails in this range. This is because of accessibility; however, if you have four-wheel drive, you will be treated to a quiet experience with few visitors. Not only will you see many bird species, but often herds of deer. 
  • Hiking from the town of Greaterville on the northeast side of the Santa Ritas is an option few people explore. To get the most out of this road trip, either check out from the library or purchase The Hiker’s Guide to the Santa Rita Mountains by Betty Leavengood and Mike Liebert, for a historical guide and self-tour.
View the list

, Santa Rita Mountains Outdoor Recreation Examiner

Ms. Strader is 40-year resident of Southern Arizona. She began her Forest Service career as a fire fighter in the Santa Rita Mountains which was the beginning of her dedication to learning as much as she could about the mountains she used to protect. ...

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