Birds of the Sierra: Western Wood-Pewee

If you heard the name "Western Wood-Pewee" (or, Contopus sordidulus, if you prefer) you might not be able to readily put a face to the name, so to speak.  But if you've spent much time in the Sierra Nevada mountains (or other western woodlands) you just might recognize this little bird by its voice.  To me, the call of the Western Wood-Pewee is part of my summer soundtrack, forever associated with the scent of pine and mountain misery hanging heavy in warm mountain air.


The Western Wood-Pewee is a fairly common tyrant flycatcher, but they are certainly more often heard than seen.  And even when you do see one, it can be a challenge telling this small, plain flycatcher from the smattering of similarly colored and shaped flycatchers in the west. 


Western Wood-Pewees are at home in a variety of woodland habitats, particularly riparian areas in coniferous and mixed conifer forests.  While these flycatchers breed across much of western North America, from Alaska to Mexico, they migrate south for the winter, spending the cooler months in the tropics.


Like other flycatchers, Western Wood-Pewees feed almost entirely on flying insects and are most easily spotted in their typical flycatcher pose: perched out on the end of a dead snag, waiting for prey to pass by.  To capture their meal, flycatchers "sally" (that is, they fly out) from their perch to nab the insect in mid-air, usually returning to the same perch.  This makes flycatchers especially enjoyable birds to watch.

This summer has flown by in a whirl of activity - unfortunately with very little opportunity for birding, hiking or exploring the outdoors in general.  Fall migration is already beginning to get underway, with a few early migrants turning up in the Valley, like Rufous Hummingbirds and Cedar Waxwings.  I advise heading to the Sierra to catch a glimpse of our summer birds before they, too, take to the skies as autumn approaches!  (Which is hard to even imagine only halfway through the heat of August!)

Visit Audubon's Guide to North American Birds to listen to the call of the Western Wood-Pewee.

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