Western Wood-Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Description:

Western Wood-Pewees have angular heads with moderate crests. Their flanks and sides are dark brown with blurry streaks that go toward the lower sides. Western Wood-Pewees' tails are short relative to their body proportions. Their breasts have an olive look. Also, the throats have a whitish color which continues on their bellies and under their tails. Their length is 6-6 ½ inches.

Voice:

A harsh, slightly descending peeer and clear whistles pee-yer.

Food:

This bird eats mainly flying insects.

Nest:

They will lay 3-4 creamy white, spotted eggs in a tightly built cup nest, usually on a horizontal branch, at least 20 feet above the ground.

Habitat:

In the summer, they can be found in evergreen forests, woodlands, coniferous forests, and also open and closed canopy forests. In the winter they can also be found in agricultural fields, meadows, grasslands, and thickets and thickets, mostly in Central America.

Range:

Western Wood-Pewee are found in western North America, starting in east central Alaska, to northwestern Minnesota, all the way south into southern Baja.

Migration:

In the fall they leave the northern area and head towards the south. During the winter, they can be found migrating even further south to Panama.

Photo Courtesy of Tom Grey

3/21/21/ok