Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)

Identification & Behavior: ~14.5 cm (5.7 in). The Western Wood-Pewee is mostly gray with a crested head and two vague whitish wing bars. The lower mandible is yellow-orange tipped with black. The sides of the breast and belly are grayish with a pale center. The tail is slightly notched. It forages at forest edges and in semi-open habitats where it perches high on exposed branches. It is very similar to the Eastern Wood-Pewee which ranges at lower elevations largely in Amazonia. In places where these two pewees come in contact, the voice is the most reliable method for proper identification. The also similar Alder Flycatcher has better-defined wing bars and black wing covers, flicks the tail, and forages near the ground.

Status: The Western Wood-Pewee is uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 600-1800 m. It is expected in Peru during the months of September through April. The Western Wood-Pewee also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Pibí Occidental.

Sub-species: Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus sordidulus), P. L. Sclater, 1859.

Meaning of Name: Contopus: Gr. kontos= pole, shaft and pous, podos= foot. sordidulus: L. sordidus= dirty, sordidulus= somewhat dirty, shabby..

See more of the Family Tyrannidae