Contopus sordidulus
adult
Compared to other flycatcher species, the Western Wood-pewee has relatively longer wings. Its legs are dark and the bill is mostly dark but with a dull yellow base to the lower mandible. The sexes are similar. Adults are gray-brown above with a blackish tail and wings. The wings show subtle pale wingbars and pale fringes to the inner flight feathers. The underparts are gray-brown, paler than the upperparts and palest on the throat, grading to whitish on the belly. Juveniles are similar to adults, but brighter looking and with buffish wingbars and fringes to the inner flight feathers.
The Western Wood-pewee is present as a breeding species across the western half of North America from May to September. It spends the rest of the year in northern South America. Birds typically perch at mid-level in open woodland. They sit motionless for long periods on lookout perches before flying out to catch an insect. Call and song offer the best chances of separation from very similar Eastern Wood-pewee in the field in regions where both might occur.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 6.25 in (16 cm)
FOOD Insects and other invertebrates
HABITAT Open woodland
STATUS Widespread and locally common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a tswee-tsee-tseet. Call is a shrill, downslurred psee-err
