SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT Blog Post #3

California’s “Range of Light” is home to a diverse array of both colorful and cryptic birds (the feathers). It is my intent to use my passion for birds and photography to paint a story about 120 of the most common or most sought-after Sierra Nevada (Range of Light) birds by most nature enthusiasts.

Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

WHAT’S IN A NAME

• Scientific Name: Contopus cooperi
• Family: Tyrannidae
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List species of “Least Concern”
• Occurrence, Residency and Breeding Status: Olive-sided Flycatcher is a fairly common summer resident and regular breeder
• Favored Biotic Zone(s): Lower and Upper Montane Zones

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a long-distance migrant that breeds in coniferous forests of North America, especially around the edges of open areas such as bogs, ponds, and clearings. In California, it breeds mostly in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where it prefers tall trees in foothill canyons and subalpine forests . It winters in northern South America and along the Andean mountains.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher feeds mainly on flying insects, such as wasps, bees, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. It forages by perching on a high, exposed branch, often on a dead tree, and flying out to catch insects in the air. It returns to the same perch or another nearby to eat its prey.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher nests in trees, usually on a horizontal branch well out from the trunk. It builds a flat open cup of twigs, grass, and weeds, lined with finer materials. The nest is usually well hidden among dense foliage or needles. The female lays 3 eggs, which she incubates for about 16 days. Both parents feed the young, which leave the nest after about 22 days. The Olive-sided Flycatcher has a distinctive call that sounds like “pip-pip” or “quick-three-beers”. It sings incessantly in spring to defend its territory and attract a mate. 

The Olive-sided Flycatcher is considered a species of conservation concern by several agencies and organizations. It has been declining in some regions for many years, particularly in recent decades. The loss of wintering habitat, fire suppression, logging, and climate change are some of the possible threats to this species.

Please visit my Feathers in the Range of Light Blog Site for more Sierra Nevada Birds blog posts:

3 Most Recent Sierra Nevada Birds Posts below:

• 
  Cassin’s Vireo
  by Jim Gain
  November 27, 2023
  SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT The Cassin’s Vireo is a Common Summer Visitor of the Sierra Nevada in the Lower and Upper Montane biotic zones.
• 
  Hermit Warbler
  by Jim Gain
  November 22, 2023
  SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT The Hermit Warbler is a Common Summer Visitor of the Sierra Nevada in the Lower and Upper Montane biotic zones.
• 
  Brown Creeper
  by Jim Gain
  November 17, 2023
  SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT The Brown Creeper is a Common Year-Round Resident of the Sierra Nevada in the Lower and Upper Montane biotic zones.