General Description: Olive-sided Flycatchers (Contopus cooperi) are large, sexually monomorphic flycatchers with a relatively short tail. Overall, they are dark above and light below. The throat, center of the breast, and belly are white. Sides and flanks heavily streaked, but the dark does not meet in the center except perhaps at the neckline. Narrow, round eyering; no wingbars. If seen, tufts of white feathers on the sides of the rump identify this species.

Olive-sided Flycatchers are "fly catchers," and often can be seen flying out from a perch to catch an insect in the air, then returning to the same perch to look for another passing bug. Sometimes they catch things on the ground, and they eat fruit too.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Tyrannidae, Fluvicolinae.

Favored Habitat: Open woods in the mountains with perches from which to catch flying bugs.

Where to Find: During migration, look for Olive-sided Flycatchers in places with trees, such as Corn Creek and Floyd Lamb State Park. These birds breed in the local mountains (e.g., Mt. Charleston and the Sheep Range).

Comments: Listen for the distinctive call: "Quick! Three Beers!" repeated every few seconds from high in the trees.