Bird of the Week 6/1 - 6/5

This week's bird is the: Olive-sided Flycatcher

1. The Olive-sided Flycatcher is one of the most impressive migrant species. Some individuals leave the Andes in March, arrive in Alaska in June, and turn around and head back starting in July - a trip totaling 7,000 miles.

2. What do these birds eat to fuel their arduous migrations? Bugs! Fly. Catchers. 7,000 miles powered entirely by flies…

3. Insects power these birds during the breeding season too. These flycatchers often are found in recently burned forests, where the large number of insects makes it easier to find food to feed their young.

4. Flycatchers have a large family (taxonomically speaking) with over 422 species – making it the largest avian family. Some notably cool-named siblings of this species: Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant, Rufous Twistwing and the Bearded Tachuri.

5. The range of the Olive-Sided Flycatcher has changed over the last two hundred year, expanding in parts of California, and contracting in parts of the Northeast. 

6. BONUS: The song of these birds has been described as sounding like: “Quick! Three beers!” Try and go hear one in your closest, most recently burned forest.

Have a great week!