Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi
The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a common tyrant flycatcher found in 25 countries, weighing about 32 g. The olive-sided flycatcher is a small to medium sized passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatcher family.
About the Olive-sided Flycatcher
The olive-sided flycatcher is a small to medium sized passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatcher family. It is a migratory species that travels from South America to North America to breed during the summer. It is an agile flyer and mainly consumes flying insects caught in flight. Since 2016, this species has been assessed as being near-threatened globally (IUCN) and threatened in Canada (SRA) due to its declining populations.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Olive-sided Flycatcher sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Aruba, Bahamas, Curaçao, Guyana.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Olive-sided Flycatcher?
- The olive-sided flycatcher is a small to medium-sized passerine, smaller than an American robin, but bigger than sparrows. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Olive-sided Flycatcher?
- The Olive-sided Flycatcher is a small sized bird weighing about 32 g.
- Where can you see an Olive-sided Flycatcher?
- The Olive-sided Flycatcher occurs in 25 countries, including the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador.
- What does an Olive-sided Flycatcher sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Olive-sided Flycatcher on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Olive-sided Flycatcher?
- The Olive-sided Flycatcher is most easily confused with the Southern Tropical Pewee, the Greater Pewee and the Smoke-colored Pewee.
- Is the Olive-sided Flycatcher endangered?
- The Olive-sided Flycatcher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Olive-sided Flycatcher for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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