Contopus cinereus
The Southern Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus) is a subtle yet engaging member of the Tyrannidae family, a small Neotropical flycatcher typically measuring 13-16 cm in length and weighing 10-15 grams. Its plumage is a deceptively plain olive-gray or brownish on the upperparts, contrasting with a whitish throat and a pale yellowish to buffy wash on the belly, which, combined with two faint wing bars and a long primary projection, serve as key identification marks. Though its species name "cin...
Predominantly found in the canopy and mid-story of tropical and subtropical humid forests, woodland edges, clearings, and secondary growth, from sea level up to 2,500 meters in elevation, also adapting to disturbed areas like coffee plantations.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects such as flies, beetles, moths, wasps, and true bugs. It captures prey through aerial sallies from a watchful perch.
Active during the day, the Southern Tropical Pewee typically perches upright on an exposed branch, often at mid-canopy level, patiently scanning for passing insects. Its primary foraging strategy is the classic "sally-strike" or "sally-pounce," where it darts out to snatch an insect in mid-air or...
The Southern Tropical Pewee boasts an extensive and continuous distribution across the Neotropics, making it one of the most widespread members of its genus. Its breeding and year-round resident range stretches from southern Mexico (including southern Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas) through all of...
Least Concern
- Despite its relatively plain appearance, the Southern Tropical Pewee is a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into the dappled light of its forest habitat. - Its common name "Pewee" is an onomatopoeia, derived directly from its distinctive, whistled call. - This species boasts an incredib...