Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesYellow-bellied Flycatcher
Small, compact flycatcher. Yellowish olive overall with a strong white eyering and two whitish wingbars.
© Jeremiah Trimble / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 04, 2018Small, compact flycatcher. Yellowish olive overall with a strong white eyering and two whitish wingbars.
© Sue Barth / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 29, 2014Sings an abrupt and somewhat hoarse che-lek.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, June 23, 2011Not all videos have sound
Breeds in boreal evergreen forests and peatlands. Found in the understory of deciduous forests during migration. Note white eyering and yellow wash across belly.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 21, 2012Small flycatcher with a slightly peaked head. Yellow-olive above and yellowish below, but some worn birds may lack yellow wash below.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 05, 2016Flies out to grab insects from foliage or in midair sometimes returning to the same perch, a foraging behavior called flycatching.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, June 25, 2011Not all videos have sound
Compact flycatcher with a white eyering and two white wingbars (but note that young birds can have yellowish wingbars).
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 26, 2013Often perches relatively still, only looking around with quick movements of the head.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, June 25, 2011Not all videos have sound
Small, compact flycatcher that is yellow olive overall with a white eyering and whitish wingbars.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, June 23, 2011Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesLeast Flycatcher
Least Flycatchers are slightly smaller than Yellow-bellied Flycatchers with a smaller bill. They have paler bellies compared to Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, although beware of paler worn birds (especially in summer). Least sing a harsh che-beck, whereas Yellow-bellied sing a softer che-lek.
© Kyle Blaney / Macaulay LibraryOntario, August 26, 2015Similar SpeciesAcadian Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatchers have whitish underparts while Yellow-bellied Flycatchers have yellowish underparts including the chin and throat. Note vocal differences.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 28, 2013Similar SpeciesAlder Flycatcher
Alder Flycatchers have a very narrow eyering while Yellow-bellied Flycatchers have a more obvious eyering. Alder also has a paler belly compared to Yellow-bellied's yellow-olive belly.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 20, 2012Similar SpeciesWillow Flycatcher
Willow Flycatchers have a very narrow (often nonexistent) eyering, while Yellow-bellied Flycatchers have a more obvious eyering. Willow also has a paler belly compared to Yellow-bellied's yellow-olive belly.
© Michiel Oversteegen / Macaulay LibraryAruba, October 16, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Tyrant Flycatchers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Tyrannidae)
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