Olive-sided Flycatcher (OSFL)
Contopus cooperi
Range
The Olive-sided Flycatcher is a long-distance migrant (subspecies majorinus is a short-distance migrator). During the non-breeding season, Olive-sided Flycatchers reside in northern South America and parts of southern Central America. They migrate north through the United States to reach their breeding grounds, which span through most of the southern half of Canada and Alaska and stretch down to the coastal Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains.
Additional Maps
Identification
Adult Olive-sided Flycatchers have a brown-gray color with a lighter breast and a white stripe down their center. This white stripe gives them the appearance of wearing a vest. White tufts near the rump are sometimes visible from behind. Olive-sided Flycatchers have a dark upper beak and a lighter lower beak. The coloration of the lower beak is darker near the tip and can have a tan/yellow tint closer to the head. The darkness of the lower part of the beak varies by individual but is rarely all dark. Juveniles do not differ greatly from the adult Olive-sided Flycatcher, with the upper parts of their body being a brownish color rather than brown-gray.
The Olive-sided Flycatcher has a whistle call translated as “Quick, three beers!” This song is given by males during the breeding season, though females and sometimes even fledglings sing in whistles. Olive-sided Flycatchers also call with three or four short pips at a time.
Habitat
In breeding season, Olive-sided Flycatchers reside in a coniferous forest habitats. They are often found in forest openings and edges or along the wooded shores of streams, ponds, lakes, bogs, etc. The abundance of insects in these areas due to standing water is thought to be a reason why Olive-sided Flycatchers frequent wooded water shores. They are also associated with burned forests, likely due to the amount of forest edge and forest openings created by burns.
In migration, the Olive-sided Flycatcher uses mostly mountain habitats, though they do use a greater diversity of habitats in migration such as nonconiferous habitats and riparian habitats. In the Olive-sided Flycatcher’s overwintering range, they have a similar habitat to their breeding habitat, occurring in forest edges, especially where snags or scattered tall trees are present.
Conservation Status
- Listed as Decreasing by American Bird Conservancy
- Listed as Near Threatened by BirdLife International
- Listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
- Listed as G4 – Apparently Secure by Nature Serve
Status by State
- Listed as Vulnerable by Arizona State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 311)
- Listed as Vulnerable by California State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 23)
- Listed as Vulnerable by Colorado State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 248
- Listed as Vulnerable by Nevada State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 7)
- Listed as a Species of Interest by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- Listed as Vulnerable by New Mexico State Species of Greatest Conservation Need
- Listed as a High Priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Listed as a Species of Special Concern by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
- Listed as Vulnerable by Oregon State Species of Greatest Conservation Need
- Listed as Vulnerable by Utah State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 99)
- Listed as S4B (Apparently Secure – Breeding populations) by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Threats to Conservation
The greatest threats this species faces are varying forest conditions due to deforestation or climate change, loss of habitat due to forest fragmentation, and a decline in their food supply; insects. As native habitats begin to be converted into other land for human use, the remaining sectors are divided, and their borders with surrounding areas like towns and major highways increase. The best way to prevent fragmentation is attempting to connect as many parcels as possible with a similar habitat. While some might recommend planting trees and bushes, it is important to ensure only native plants are being added, as invasive species could harm the area and the wildlife around it even more.
Funding Opportunities
- America the Beautiful Challenge
- Community Forest Program
- ConocoPhillips Partnership for Public and Private Land Managers
- Conservation Nation Grant Program
- Conservation Reserve Program
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative Small Grant Program
- Migratory Bird Program
- Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grant
- NFWF- America Restoration Grant
- Northeast Forests & Rivers Fund
- Pacific Birds U.S. Partnership
- Partners for Fish and Wildlife
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program
- The Lawrence Foundation- Environmental Grants
- The Migratory Bird Program
- Tribal Wildlife Grants
- Wildlife Conservation Grants for Species Conservation
- Wildlife Diversity Grant Program