Family: Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers view all from this family

Description 6 1/2" (17 cm). A sparrow-sized flycatcher, dull olive-gray above, slightly paler below, with 2 whitish wing bars. Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) of western United States extremely similar, but generally darker below; the two species are best distinguished by voice. Empidonax flycatchers are smaller and usually have noticeable eye ring.

Habitat Forests, open woodlands, orchards, and shade trees in parks and along roadsides.

Nesting 3 or 4 creamy-white, brown-dotted eggs in finely woven, cup-shaped nest made of vegetable fiber and covered with lichens, saddled to a horizontal limb and blending in with the branch.

Range Breeds from south-central and southeastern Canada to Gulf Coast and central Florida. Winters in tropics.

Voice   A plaintive pee-ah-weee or pee-weee, falling in pitch on last note.

Discussion Eastern Wood-Pewees are more often heard than seen because of their dull coloration and because they frequent the dense upper canopy of the forest.