The down-slurred pee-eer call of this flycatcher is one of Oregon's most characteristic summertime bird sounds. Wherever there is a canopy of mature deciduous trees, one is likely to hear the call during warm afternoons when most other birds are silent. Because the call can easily be heard, it can usually be found perched near the tip of a dead branch from which it frequently flies a short distance to capture a flying insect, or to chase an intruder from its territory.

The Western wood-pewee is a common migrant and fairly common breeder statewide in open groves of trees or along forest edges at all elevations.

Hear the song of the Western wood-pewee

Photo by Dave Budeau, ODFW