Olive-sided Flycatcher Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesOlive-sided Flycatcher
Large, upright-perching flycatcher. From the front it looks like it is wearing a vest. Sexes similar.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 29, 2017Head feathers are sometimes raised giving the head a peaked look.
© Amy Clark Courtney / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 10, 2020Perches upright often on the top of dead branches and trees.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, June 10, 2013Not all videos have sound
Large, elongated, upright-perching flycatcher with a "vested" look—gray sides contrast with white stripe down the belly. Head sometimes looks peaked at the rear.
© Steve Wickliffe / Macaulay LibraryMontana, May 20, 2020White tufts on the sides of the rump can be helpful in distinguishing this species from pewees, but these tufts are not always visible.
© Jean-Claude Charbonneau / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 25, 2019Perches prominently often on dead branches, especially snags in recently burned forests.
© Marlene Cashen / Macaulay LibraryWashington, August 12, 2019Similar SpeciesGreater Pewee
Greater Pewees have a plain grayish breast without the gray-on-white vested look of Olive-sided Flycatchers.
© Johnny Bovee / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 30, 2016Similar SpeciesWestern Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewees are smaller, less bulky, and longer-tailed than Olive-sided Flycatchers and do not have as strong of a vested look.
© Nate Gowan / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, July 25, 2017Similar SpeciesEastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Wood-Pewees are smaller, less bulky, and longer-tailed than Olive-sided Flycatchers and do not have as strong of a vested look.
© Graham Gerdeman / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, June 15, 2017Similar SpeciesEastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebes have whiter underparts and are smaller than Olive-sided Flycatchers. Note lack of vested look.
© Epi Shemming / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 22, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Tyrant Flycatchers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Tyrannidae)
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