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 wes...
