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BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER  Myiophobus fasciatus 11.5–12.5cm. Unob­

trusive small flycatcher of brushy second growth, overgrown weedy fields,

scrubby savanna. Perches low, often along fences; sallies for insects. Note

brownish plumage, dusky-streaked breast, short pale eyebrow, buffy wingbars.

SOUNDS: Slightly emphatic, mellow twittering chatters, such as whee-chchchchchi,

0.5 secs, may be repeated steadily. Dawn song a mostly downslurred, mellow

chirping chi’li, every 1–2 secs, interspersed with overslurred h’wiép phrases.

STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common locally on s. Pacific slope, to 1500m;

spreading with deforestation. (Costa Rica to S America.)

*COSTA RICAN TUFTED FLYCATCHER  Mitrephanes [phaeocercus] auran­

tiiventris 11.5–12.5cm. Distinctive, small crested flycatcher of humid foothill

and highland forest edge, adjacent second growth and clearings with shrubs,

trees. Perches low to high, often on prominent twigs; fluttering sallies for insects

often followed by return to same perch, shivering tail upon landing, like a

pewee. SOUNDS: Slightly ringing slow twitter of (usually 3–10) rising chip

notes, pyi-pyi..., 6–7 notes/sec; slightly emphatic, overslurred whistle, pséeih,

and quiet overslurred pip, which may precede twitters and whistle. Dawn song

a short, slightly stuttering series of bright chips run into a high whistle, pip pi-

pih pih seéuh, and variations, repeated over and over with slow rippling cadence. STATUS: Fairly common

to common on both slopes, 500–3000m, most numerous 1200–2100m. (Costa Rica to Panama.)

PEWEES (GENUS CONTOPUS)

(6+ species). Rather drab flycatchers with slightly peaked or

crested crowns, paler wingbars; lack distinct pale eyerings. Perch rather upright on exposed twigs or

prominent high snags and sally out for insects, often returning repeatedly to the same perch and quivering

tail upon landing. Unlike empids (pp. 308–312), pewees do not habitually flick tails and wings.

OCHRACEOUS PEWEE  Contopus ochraceus 16–17cm. Scarce, medium-size,

crested flycatcher of highland oak forest, adjacent second growth with taller trees.

See genus note. Mainly at mid–upper levels, at breaks in canopy or within open

midstory. Cf. much smaller Costa Rican Tufted Flycatcher. Juv. has brighter ochre-

buff wingbars. SOUNDS: Short series of (usually 5–6, more when agitated) ringing,

slightly metallic ascending to overslurred chips, pying pying..., 5–6/sec; suggests

Costa Rican Tufted Flycatcher but lower, more metallic, and slower-paced. Song a

high, piping, overall rising wi-seíh every 3–6 secs. STATUS: Scarce and local in

Central and Talamanca Mts., mainly 2200–3000m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

DARK PEWEE  Contopus lugubris 16–17cm. Humid foothill and highland

forest edge; adjacent clearings with taller trees. See genus note. Mainly at mid–

upper levels, often on exposed snags. Note tufted crest, overall slaty-gray

plumage; appreciably larger than migrant Western Pewee. Juv. has dull buffy

wingbars. SOUNDS: Overslurred bright piic or pwic, at times in short, measured

series of (usually 2–7) notes, slower-paced and higher-pitched than Olive-sided

Flycatcher. Dawn song repeated over and over, fred-rick-fear, rick ascending,

fear lower (Stiles & Skutch 1989). STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on

both slopes, mainly 1200–2300m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER  Contopus cooperi 17–18.5cm. Large, rather bulky

migrant pewee of foothill and highland forest and edge; migrants also in lowlands.

Perches atop taller trees, rarely lower at edges of clearings. Note relatively short

tail, peaked head (not crested, cf. longer-tailed Dark Pewee), white throat with

dark-vested underparts; from behind, sometimes shows white flank tufts. Two

song types may represent cryptic species, not visually separable: Northern Olive-

sided Pewee C. [c.] cooperi (breeds n. N America); Western Olive-sided Pewee

C. [c.] undescribed? (breeds w. N America). SOUNDS: Call of both types a clipped,

overslurred bihk, typically in series of 2–4 notes; songs sometimes heard in spring,

rarely fall–winter, a 3-note wot! peeves you (Western) or whit free beeh (Northern). STATUS: Uncommon but

widespread transient, late Aug–Oct, mid-Mar to early Jun, to 3000m; rare in winter on both slopes, mainly

600–2300m. Status of the 2 types in Costa Rica awaits elucidation; wintering birds most likely Western.