Northern Tropical Pewee
Contopus bogotensis
Small, gray flycatcher with a yellow-tinged belly and a short crest. Very similar to both Eastern Wood-Pewee and Western Wood-Pewee, but has shorter wings, a longer tail, and sometimes shows a pale spot between bill and eye. Note that wood-pewees are migratory birds, so are not present year-round in the areas where they overlap with Northern Tropical Pewee. Voice is the most reliable ID feature; Northern Tropical Pewee’s typical song is a very short, sputtering burst. Inhabits light woodland, forest edge, and overgrown fields. Usually seen on an exposed perch, from which it regularly sallies out to chase insect prey, often returning to the same spot over and over again.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Contopus bogotensis
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Contopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-browed Woodpecker
Piculus aurulentus
Medium-sized woodpecker found in both montane and lowland humid forests. Olive-green above and barred below with a yellow throat. Note a complex head pattern: red crown on males (green on females) and yellow stripes above and below the eye that are bordered by another red stripe below the eye. Resembles Golden-green Woodpecker, which is bigger, lacks the yellow eyebrow and has a pale iris.
Many-colored Bushshrike
Chlorophoneus multicolor
Pretty bushshrike that has several different morphs. These vary by the color of the breast: black, yellow, orange, red, or buff. Males have a black mask through the eye, and females a gray one. Found in the mid-story and canopy of humid forest. Often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. The most common vocalization is a quiet, rising, two-part whistle. Very similar to Black-fronted Bushshrike, but doesn’t overlap in range.
Thick-billed Parrot
Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha
Very local, long-tailed, and social parrot of mountains in northwest Mexico. Feeds in pine and pine-oak forests. Nests colonially in groves of giant aspens, whose soft trunks allow nest cavities to be excavated. Usually found in flocks, of 10–100 birds, less often in scattered pairs; often located by its far-carrying, raucous laughing calls. No similar species in its range; note the red forehead and small red shoulder patches. In flight shows a broad yellow stripe under the wings.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.