The ochraceous pewee is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Region
Central American highlands
Typical Environment
Occurs in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama, especially in cloud forests and moist montane evergreen forests. Prefers mature forest, edges, and clearings with tall emergent trees, often using midstory to canopy perches. It is most frequently encountered along ridgelines and forest borders where vantage perches are abundant. Local presence depends on intact forest structure and a steady supply of aerial insects.
Altitude Range
900–2600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The ochraceous pewee is a small tyrant flycatcher of Central American highland forests, noted for its warm buffy underparts and upright, watchful posture on exposed perches. It typically hunts by sallying out from a mid-canopy perch to snatch flying insects before returning to the same spot. Its plaintive, whistled calls carry through cloud forests at dawn. It is generally uncommon but can be locally fairly common where mature montane forest persists.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies from a perch
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, defending small feeding territories. Breeding pairs build a small cup nest placed on a horizontal branch, often high in the midstory. Both parents likely participate in provisioning the young, typical of Contopus flycatchers.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a clear, plaintive whistled pee-wee or pee-yer that carries through the forest, often repeated at intervals from a prominent perch. Calls include thin, high chips and short whistles. Vocal activity peaks at dawn and in overcast weather.
Plumage
Uppers olive-brown to dusky olive with two pale buff wingbars; underparts warm ochraceous-buff, usually paler on the throat and center of belly. Feathers appear smooth and neat, with minimal streaking. Tail is dusky with slightly paler edges.
Diet
Feeds primarily on flying insects such as flies, bees, wasps, beetles, and moths, captured in the air. It uses a sit-and-wait strategy, scanning from an exposed perch before sallying out to snatch prey. Occasionally gleans small arthropods from foliage and may take small berries when insect activity is low.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the midstory to canopy along forest edges, gaps, and clearings with scattered tall trees. Also hunts within interior cloud forest where light gaps provide aerial foraging lanes.
