Pewee Valley is named after a bird -- the Eastern Wood Pewee -- as opposed to the diminutive size of a geological feature (actually, Pewee Valley is on a crest, not a valley, so that part of the name remains a mystery).

Pewees are part of the bird family Tyrannidae, which is comprised of 416 different species of birds generally referred to as Tyrant Flycatchers. Of the four North American species of Pewees, the Eastern Wood Pewee is the only species, as its name implies, that is common to North America east of the Mississippi River.

The Eastern Wood Pewee is larger than the other species of flycatchers. Generally, the adult Eastern Wood-Pewee will grow to a length of about six inches, as well as having a larger frame than the flycatchers. Another distinct difference between the species is the white eye-ring.

The Eastern Wood-Pewee does have a characteristic white eye-ring, however it is duller in color then the flycatchers and therefore not as obvious.

The plumage of the Eastern Wood-Pewee is generally dark grayish-olive over the bird's back and wings, with a dull white to creamy colored throat. The bird's breast tends to be darker with a hint of pale yellow coloring. Both males and females have very similar plumage, and visibly distinguishing one from the other is virtually impossible.

Eastern Wood Pewees, as with all flycatchers, rely almost exclusively on insects as a food source. Pewees generally perch high in the treetops, or occasionally on telephone poles or wires, and wait for flying insects to come within striking distance. When feeding, the Pewee will dart from its perch and snatch the insect in mid-air. It will then fly back to the exact spot it was perched, before eating the insect.

Pewees prefer a habitat of open woodlands and forests. The open woodlands often consist of orchards, or overgrown pastures, but in populated towns and cities, small tree-covered parks also once attracted these birds. However, in areas where spraying for insects, such as mosquitoes is still prevalent, most birds have abandoned those environments because the food source has been eliminated, or due to adverse effects from the toxicity of the sprays.

These birds generally stay high in the upper canopy of the trees which makes them very difficult to visibly locate. By knowing and understanding the bird's preferred habitats and its behaviors, you can increase the odds of seeing some Pewees.

Orchards and old pastures are popular habitats for the Pewees, but more importantly it's an environment where the trees are not very tall, so the birds tend to be lower to the ground. In the spring, the birds are arriving from their long migration and will feed heavily to restore lost energy from the trip. This means that they will be more active and predictable.

Several songbirds are rarely seen, but are easily recognized by their unique and distinctive songs. In fact, some songbirds have such a distinctive call, many of the species acquired their names from their call. The Pewee is an example of such a bird.

The bird family Tyrannidae is extremely large and is comprised of 416 different species of birds generally referred to as Tyrant Flycatchers. Most of the species within the bird family Tyrannidae are located in South America. Of the 416 different species of Tyrant Flycatchers, about 35 to 40 species breed in North America.

Although many of the species in this family are very similar and have the descriptive name of flycatcher, such as the Olive-sided Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, and Willow Flycatcher, to name but a few, many other birds in this family have very different names but similar characteristics. Some of these other members of the family are birds such as the various species of Phoebes, Kingbirds, and Pewees.

So, there you have it!