Prior analysis has characterized the clonal characteristics of effector CD8⁺ T cells specific for the prominent influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP) and acid polymerase (PA) peptides presented by H2D^b. Using a single-cell approach and determination of CDR3β profiles, a limited, predominantly “public” repertoire was found for CD8⁺D^bNP₃₆₆⁺Vβ8.3⁺ cells, whereas diverse and “private” T cell antigen receptor (TCR)β clonotypes were typical of the CD8⁺D^bPA₂₂₄⁺Vβ7⁺ response. This single-cell approach has now been used to relate the contributions of particular clonotypes (or affinities) to high-avidity TCRs, as defined by binding under conditions of limiting tetramer availability. At least by the measure of CDR3β usage, no difference could be found between total and high-avidity populations in the spectrum of TCR-pMHC affinities throughout the limited, and relatively public, CD8⁺D^bNP₃₆₆⁺Vβ8.3⁺ populations. Conversely, the more even (by clone size), diverse, and private CD8⁺D^bPA₂₂₄⁺Vβ7⁺ response was characterized by the clear partitioning of the largest T cell clones in the high-avidity compartment. These results suggest that the relatively constrained CD8⁺D^bNP₃₆₆⁺Vβ8.3⁺ set utilizes a relatively narrow range of affinities, whereas the broader CD8⁺D^bPA₂₂₄⁺Vβ7⁺ response is induced at a range of TCR-pMHC affinities. Thus, whereas TCR sequence (or affinity) appears to contribute substantially to the avidity profile of diverse virus-specific CD8⁺ populations, other mechanisms may be prominent where the TCR spectrum is more limited.