Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

18-20 cm (7-8") Common in coniferous forests.

Large-headed short-tailed flycatcher with a thick bill. Dark gray or olive-brown above. White stripe extends from throat through breast to belly. It contrasts with dark sides to give bird a vested look. White patches may poke out from wings on lower back.

Often perches on exposed perches or the tops of trees.

Song: whistled "quick three beers"; also a pip-pip-pip call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Amy McAndrews

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Credit: Woodfibrebirder

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Credit: Chrissy & Andy

Where it lives

Distribution map

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Olive-sided Flycatcher

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5

What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Summer
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Mountainous Terrain · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline

result:884-olive-sided-flycatcher:1:1 Source: 884 Olive-sided Flycatcher, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 5

What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Fall

result:884-olive-sided-flycatcher:2:1 Source: 884 Olive-sided Flycatcher, row 2