[djleahy]

I had photographed an ash-throated flycatcher in this park (Sycamore Grove, southern Livermore) a couple of weeks earlier, but this looks like something different, and I never did ID it. The bright wing patch appears in every pic (eight total), but it may still be some kind of overexposed glint.

[jcwings]

It's not a bright wing patch. It's actually a tuft of white feathers on both sides at the top of the rump. This is a key feature for identifying this bird. Look in your field guide at the Contopus flycatchers and see if you can ID it!

[djleahy]

Originally Posted by jcwings

It's not a bright wing patch. It's actually a tuft of white feathers on both sides at the top of the rump. This is a key feature for identifying this bird. Look in your field guide at the Contopus flycatchers and see if you can ID it!

Hehe, how about an olive-sided flycatcher? Nice, a new one for me (after two years in stasis!). It even seems to be perched in the indicated fashion according Peterson and Sibley. Thanks for the pointer, jcwings!

[AlexC]

What worries me about this as an Olive-sided Flycatcher is the seemingly small stature, and, more importantly, the notched tail. My experience with this species is none, so forgive me for bringing it up, but Sibley draws it without a notched tail. Can the degree of notch vary from bird to bird?

[djleahy]

Originally Posted by AlexC

What worries me about this as an Olive-sided Flycatcher is the seemingly small stature, and, more importantly, the notched tail. My experience with this species is none, so forgive me for bringing it up, but Sibley draws it without a notched tail. Can the degree of notch vary from bird to bird?

I recall that it was not that small of a bird. I thought it was another ash-throated flycatcher, but got stumped when I was looking at the pictures later (this was before I had discovered BirdForum ). Peterson's shows a modest tail notch. I think this is where JanJ shows up with six astounding picture links and settles any outstanding issues.

[AlexC]

Originally Posted by djleahy

I recall that it was not that small of a bird. I thought it was another ash-throated flycatcher, but got stumped when I was looking at the pictures later (this was before I had discovered BirdForum ). Peterson's shows a modest tail notch. I think this is where JanJ shows up with six astounding picture links and settles any outstanding issues.

LOL - This is that part!

Your reassurance of size makes me feel better about Olive-sided. It's definitely a Contopus, I just want to make sure we're covering all our bases.

[djleahy]

Originally Posted by AlexC

Your reassurance of size makes me feel better about Olive-sided. It's definitely a Contopus, I just want to make sure we're covering all our bases.

I hope so, I've added it to my site now! Shameless plug:

http://leahy.to/birds/olive-sided%20flycatcher.html