Contopus fumigatus
The Smoke-colored Pewee (Contopus fumigatus) is a subtly elegant, medium-sized Neotropical flycatcher, typically measuring 18-20 cm (7-8 in) in length and weighing 25-35 grams (0.9-1.2 oz), with a wingspan of approximately 30-33 cm. Its plumage is predominantly a deep, smoky gray, often appearing sooty on the back and head, gradually fading to a paler, grayish-white on the belly, sometimes with a faint yellowish wash on the undertail coverts. Distinctive, albeit subtle, field marks include fa...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forests, and their edges, typically found at elevations ranging from 1,000 to over 3,000 meters (3,300 to 9,800 feet) above sea level.
The diet of the Smoke-colored Pewee consists almost exclusively of flying insects, including various flies, beetles, wasps, and moths, which it captures by sallying from a perch; occasionally, small fruits or berries may supplement its insectivorous diet.
The Smoke-colored Pewee is a diurnal insectivore, spending its active hours perched motionlessly for extended periods, surveying its surroundings for prey. Its primary foraging strategy involves sallying forth from an exposed or semi-exposed perch to snatch flying insects mid-air, returning often...
The Smoke-colored Pewee boasts an extensive and largely resident distribution across montane regions of Central and South America. Its breeding and year-round range extends from southern Mexico, through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Southward, it follows the...
Least Concern
- The Smoke-colored Pewee is often mistaken for its common cousin, the Eastern Wood-Pewee, but its preference for higher elevations and generally darker, more uniform plumage are key differentiators. - Despite its widespread distribution, its subtle coloration and quiet, high-perching habits ofte...