Another Flycatcher, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (1 Viewer)

[m.skalla]

Was pretty sure these were going to be Olive-sided but when I looked at the photos the wing bars seemed to distinct in comparison to the field guide. One was hawking insects from the top of a dead tree. After about 10 minuets the second showed up, -I assumed they were both Olive-sided. After about a minuet sitting near each other they took off with one chasing the other.

 

[birdmeister]

Great pictures, especially for learning the ID of these two! The first image is absolutely an Olive-sided. In photos with both birds, the top bird is Eastern Wood-pewee and the bottom one Olive-sided. In image "8-22 (9)", note the lower contrast and more yellow color to the wood-pewee's "vest". When seen side-by-side, Olive-sided is a chunkier bird, with more of a "belly" and combination of a proportionally shorter tail and larger head. Olive-sided also has a very distinct notched tail, though this feature may not be truly reliable. You're right about noticing the wing-bars, too. Olive-sided does not show obvious ones, while wood-pewee certainly does.

 

[Butty]

The olive-sided flycatcher/wood-peewee distinction is one which seems often pretty easy and often plain confusing.

In image "8-22 (9)", note the lower contrast and more yellow color to the wood-pewee's "vest".

This is caused (largely or wholly) by the whole underparts being in shade apart from a large part of the rear flank which is in sun.

Olive-sided does not show obvious [wing-bars]

They're definitely obvious in pic 2 (which you can tell is the lower bird because of the branch structure).

 

[m.skalla]

Thanks for you replies.

Butty - wasn't sure from your post which you thought these were or if the photos were good enough for an ID.

 

[tom baxter]

I think the two responders above are in agreement with one another, as am I.

 

[KC Foggin]

I wish I could come by the Olive-sided Flycatcher. A great capture m.skalla!

 

[birdmeister]

The olive-sided flycatcher/wood-peewee distinction is one which seems often pretty easy and often plain confusing.

This is caused (largely or wholly) by the whole underparts being in shade apart from a large part of the rear flank which is in sun.

They're definitely obvious in pic 2 (which you can tell is the lower bird because of the branch structure).

You're right, I didn't catch that image 2 is actually the Olive-sided. The wing-bars do show up fairly decently, though Wood-pewee still consistently shows bolder bars.

Good point about shade affecting the yellow tones on the pewee, too. I would point out, though, that in the last image much of the Olive-sided's underparts are in the same shade (save for lower belly), and they really show up as a snow-white.

 

[m.skalla]

Thx all for the input.