Smoke-colored Pewee

The Smoke-colored Pewee occurs widely in Ecuador, primarily along both Andean slopes, where it inhabits humid montane and cloud forests from roughly 1,000 to 3,000 meters. It is generally fairly common and resident throughout its range, often seen perched quietly at mid-levels, sallying out to catch flying insects with a deliberate, flycatcher-like rhythm. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a vast South American range and a population that, while slowly declining due to habitat degradation, remains stable overall. Natural history observations highlight its uniform smoky-gray plumage, subtle crest, and preference for mature forest interiors, with nesting biology still poorly documented but presumed to involve open cup nests placed on horizontal branches.