The western wood pewee (Contopus sordidulus), a small tyrant flycatcher, breeds in open wooded areas in western North America. The pewee is named after its call. It is extremely similar to the eastern wood pewee – the Western averages more brownish grey overall, more often with a solid grey chest band rather than pale. The scientific name Contopus comes from the Greek word kontos which means short and pous which means foot — referring to the relatively short legs on Contopus flycatchers. Sordidulus means dirty or unkempt, a reference to the dusky brown wash to the breast and flanks.
