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Home > Coniferous Forest Animals > Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Olive-sided flycatcher is a medium to large-sized passerine bird belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family. It is sturdily-built and is one of the most noticeable birds of the coniferous forests of North America.

Olive Sided Flycatcher Range Map

Olive Sided Flycatcher Range Map

Scientific Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyTyrannidae
GenusContopus
Scientific NameContopus cooperi
Olive Sided Flycatcher Bird

Olive Sided Flycatcher Bird

Olive Sided Flycatcher

Olive Sided Flycatcher

Quick Information

Other NamesMoucherolle à côtés olive (French), Pibí boreal (Spanish)
Size18 – 20 cm
WingspanApproximately 33 cm
Weight1.1–1.3 oz
ColorFace, upperparts, and flanks are dark olive; under parts are light, throat is white with dark bill; juveniles have  brownish upperparts while the margins of the shoulders and the wing bars are buff
DistributionCanada, Alaska, western and northeastern United States; migratory population is found in  Central America and in South America’s Andes region
HabitatConiferous forests, openings and edges of forests like ponds and meadows
NestingMiddle of May to mid-June
SoundsCall: Fast pip pip pip

Song: Whistled quick-three beers

LifespanUp to 11.1 years in the wild
DietFeed on flying insects like bees, wasps, ants, flies, grasshoppers, moths, beetles, dragonflies
Clutch size3 eggs
Number of Broods1 per year
Incubation PeriodAbout 2 weeks
IUCN Conservation StatusNear Threatened
Olive Sided Flycatcher Pictures

Olive Sided Flycatcher Pictures

Olive Sided Flycatcher Juvenile

Olive Sided Flycatcher Juvenile

Behavior

These birds hunt by waiting from a high exposed perch often at the top of the tree. They fly out to catch the flying insects and return to the same perch. The flycatchers usually catch insects in mid-air and consume them whereas larger preys are carried back to the perch.

Breeding and Nesting

Nests in the shape of a flat open cup, made up of twigs, lichens, rootlets, grass, weeds are built by the female on horizontal branches away from the trunk. These monogamous birds display courtship behavior involving brisk chasing through the branches. They have a large breeding territory that can extend to 40-45 hectares around the nest, with the male aggressively defending the territory.

Olive Sided Flycatcher Nest

Olive Sided Flycatcher Nest

Olive Sided Flycatcher Eggs

Olive Sided Flycatcher Eggs

Lifecycle

Female incubates her eggs while the male gathers food for her. After hatching, both male and the female feed the young. The young ones are ready for their first flight at about 21-23 days. After leaving the nest, the young ones continue to depend on the parents for about a week. The family stays together till the migration in fall.

Olive Sided Flycatcher Images

Olive Sided Flycatcher Images

Olive Sided Flycatcher Photos

Olive Sided Flycatcher Photos

Interesting Fact

  • They undertake one of the longest migrations among the North American flycatchers.

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive-sided_flycatcher
  2. https://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/plans/rs_olive-sided%20flycatcher_e_proposed.pdf
  3. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Olive-sided_Flycatcher/lifehistory
  4. https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/olive-sided-flycatcher
  5. http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/olive-sided-flycatcher

Published on October 7th 2016 by Sajal Datta under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 9th May 2023.

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