Western Wood-Pewee

Scientific Name: Contopus Sordidulus

Population Estimate: 10M

Range / Habitat: Summers in western North America, from Alaska to Mexico. Winters in small area of northwestern South America. Habitat is open forests and riparian areas.

Field Notes: Medium-sized flycatcher, olive above, buff below. Faint white wing bars, no eye ring (to distinguish it from the Empidonax flycatchers who have distinctive wing bars and eye rings). Distinguished by voice alone from Eastern Wood-Pewee, though the ranges only overlap appreciably in winter. This species is know for returning to the same perch over and over while hawking. It does not wag its tail while perched, distinguishing it from Phoebe species.

Personal Notes: First identified by guide in San Blas, Mexico, but later seen across the Western US.