Bird Guide

Olive-sided Flycatcher vs Western Wood Pewee

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Small32 gForest

The olive-sided flycatcher is a small to medium-sized passerine, smaller than an American robin, but bigger than sparrows. It can be identified by its olive-grey or grey-brownish plumage above with a white mid-breast section and throat. The olive tones on its back and wings are seen mainly in optimal light and when the feathers are freshly moulted. The sides of the breast area are grey and make the bird look like it is wearing a vest. It has a relatively long bill and long wings for its size. Sometimes, some of its head feathers can be raised, which make it look like it has a small crest. Voice: During the breeding, olive-sided flycatcher males sing a song to attract a mate. The mnemonic for its song is "Quick, three beers!" with three successive higher-pitched sounds. The first sound is shorter and not as high-pitched and loud as the two others. Sometimes, during mating season, males can produce growling sounds or squeaks when in conflict with other males.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Olive-sided Flycatcher
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz · Call, song · San Antonio De Los Altos (near Parroquia Macarao), Municipio Los Salias, Miranda, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Becky Matsubara from El Sobrante, California · CC BY 2.0
Western Wood Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Tiny13 gForest

Adults are gray-olive on the upperparts with light underparts, washed with olive on the breast. They have two wing bars and a dark bill with yellow at the base of the lower mandible. This bird is very similar in appearance to the eastern wood pewee; the two birds were formerly considered to be one species. The call of C. sordidulus is a loud buzzy peeer; the song consists of three rapid descending tsees ending with a descending peeer. The bird is about 5.5–6.3 in (14–16 cm) in length, 0.4–0.5 oz (11–14 g) in weight, and has a wingspan of 10.2 in (26 cm).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Western Wood Pewee
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Song · Prairie Trail, Custer State Park, South Dakota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Yellowstone National Park · Public domain

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Olive-sided Flycatcher and Western Wood Pewee.