Western Wood Pewee

Overview

The western wood pewee is a small tyrant flycatcher found in western North America. It is a migratory bird that travels to South America at the end of the summer season.

Identification

• *Grey-olive upperparts with light underparts, washed with olive on the breast.
• Two wing bars and a dark bill with yellow at the base of the lower mandible.
• Approximately 5.5–6.3 in (14–16 cm) in length with a wingspan of 10.2 in (26 cm).
• Call is a loud buzzy peeer; song consists of three rapid descending tsees ending with a descending peeer.

Habitat

Breeding habitat consists of open wooded areas in western North America, such as California black oak forests. The species migrates to South America at the end of summer.

Diet

Forages by perching at a middle height in trees to hawk insects in flight, or by hovering to glean insects from vegetation.

Did you know?

The western wood pewee was formerly considered the same species as the eastern wood pewee due to their very similar appearance.