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Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)

General Description: Western Wood-Pewees (Contopus sordidulus) are small, sexually monomorphic flycatchers. Overall, they are dark above and light below. The throat and belly are white. Sides and flanks dark; the dark meets in the center of the breast. No eyering; no wingbars.

Western Wood-Pewees are "fly catchers," and often can be seen flying out from a perch to catch an insect in the air, then returning to the same perch to look for another passing bug. Sometimes they catch things on the ground, and they eat fruit too.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Tyrannidae, Fluvicolinae.

Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)

Favored Habitat: Look for Western Wood-Pewees in open woods in the mountains with perches from which to catch flying bugs.

Where to Find: During migration, look for them in places with trees, such as Corn Creek and Floyd Lamb State Park. These birds breed in the local mountains (e.g., Mt. Charleston and the Sheep Range).

Comments: Listen for the distinctive call: "Peeerr" repeated every few seconds.

Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) If you were a tasty flying insect, you'd better hope you never see this face!
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Western Wood-Pewee, note lack of eye-ring
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Western Wood-Pewee, note the light belly stripe
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Western Wood-Pewee with a big mouthful of insect wings
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240119
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