Olive-sided Flycatcher Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Greater 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 Species
Western 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 Species
Eastern 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 Species
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebes have whiter underparts and are smaller than Olive-sided Flycatchers. Note lack of vested look.
© Epi Shemming | Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 22, 2017Main Species
Olive-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, 2013Large, 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, 2020Perches prominently often on dead branches, especially snags in recently burned forests.
© Marlene Cashen | Macaulay LibraryWashington, August 12, 2019Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Tyrant Flycatchers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Tyrannidae)
More to Read
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.