Smoke-colored pewee

The smoke-colored pewee (Contopus fumigatus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. The species is characterized by a uniform dusky-grey plumage.

Smoke-colored pewees are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. Their natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forests.

The smoke-colored pewee is a grey bird with a slight crest on its head. Their beaks are orange with a black culmen. Mature birds are 16-17cm in size and 18-20g in weight. This species displays no sexual dimorphism, meaning both sexes share the same plumage. Their feet are anisodactyl, therefore three digits on their foot are forward and one is back. This is the most common foot type in perching birds.

Adult smoke-colored pewees have a uniform grey plumage, though the upper body and wing tips may be tinged with olive or a pale brown. The crown is a dark gray with a crest. The edges of the tertials may be a light brown. Two pale, narrow wingbars may be present, but near indistinct. The throat, breast, and belly may be a slightly paler grey. The undertail-coverts are yellowish-white. Both sexes look alike. As you move North in smoke-colored pewee habitat range, birds typically become darker and greyer.

Juvenile smoke-colored pewees are typically lighter and browner than mature birds. A fringed buff of feathers can be seen at the bird's nape. Two to three wingbars are visible, and both the wingbars and belly are slightly ochre.