Northern Tropical Pewee
NameNorthern Tropical Pewee
Common NameNorthern Tropical Pewee
Scientific NameContopus cinereus
FamilyTyrannidae
Wingspan (cm)21.5
Length (cm)14
Weight (g)12.5
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are olive-brown to grayish-brown, with a paler throat and a distinctive yellowish wash on the belly and flanks. It exhibits two faint, pale wing bars, which can sometimes be indistinct.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalization is a distinctive, clear, and often mournful whistled 'pee-o' or 'pee-wee', sometimes described as having a slightly buzzy quality.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound from eastern Mexico south through Central America (including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) and into northern South America, extending to parts of Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Drab olive-brown plumage, Upright perching posture, Faint pale wing bars, Yellowish wash on lower belly, Relatively short bill
Description
The Northern Tropical Pewee is a small, drab flycatcher known for its upright perching posture. It typically sallies out from an exposed branch to catch insects in flight, returning to the same or a nearby perch.
