The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a medium-sized songbird that breeds in forests across North America. Understanding the taxonomy or scientific classification of this species can provide insight into its evolutionary history and relationship to other bird species.
Kingdom
The Olive-sided Flycatcher belongs to the kingdom Animalia, which includes all animals. Animals are multicellular eukaryotic organisms that ingest food rather than manufacturing it themselves through photosynthesis like plants do.
Phylum
This bird is in the phylum Chordata. All chordates have a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail at some point in their development. Vertebrates like birds have a backbone and spinal column instead of a notochord as adults.
Class
The class for the Olive-sided Flycatcher is Aves. All birds belong to the class Aves, which is characterized by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and oviparous reproduction with hard-shelled eggs.
Order
This species belongs to the order Passeriformes. Passeriformes are perching birds with three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing backward. They have complex vocal organs suited for singing.
Family
The Olive-sided Flycatcher is in the family Tyrannidae. Tyrannidae consists of the tyrant flycatchers of the Americas. They have large heads, upright posture, and long to moderately long tails. Most tyrant flycatchers are insectivores.
Genus
The genus for the Olive-sided Flycatcher is Contopus. Contopus is a genus of tyrant flycatchers. They are medium-sized passerines with large bills surrounded by rictal bristles. There are approximately 12 species in this genus.
Species
The specific epithet or species name for the Olive-sided Flycatcher is cooperi. This two-part scientific name Contopus cooperi identifies the exact species for this bird.
Key Taxonomic Features
Here are some of the key taxonomic features that help distinguish the Olive-sided Flycatcher from related bird species:
- Medium-sized tyrant flycatcher measuring 17-20 cm in length
- Dark grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts
- White tufts on flanks
- Dark brown crown and olive shading on sides
- Pinkish-yellow bill with black tip
- Dark tail with olive-yellow edges
- Loud “Quick, three beers!” song
Scientific Classification
The full taxonomic classification of the Olive-sided Flycatcher from kingdom to species is:
Taxonomic Rank | Name |
---|---|
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Passeriformes |
Family | Tyrannidae |
Genus | Contopus |
Species | C. cooperi |
Species Relationships
The Olive-sided Flycatcher is most closely related to other species in the Contopus genus such as:
- Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
- Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
- Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus)
- Greater Pewee (Contopus pertinax)
These Contopus flycatchers all share similar physical features and behaviors. However, the Olive-sided Flycatcher has distinctive white tufts on its flanks unlike its close relatives.
More distantly related to the Olive-sided Flycatcher within the Tyrannidae family are Kingbirds, Phoebe’s, Wood-Tyrants, and other Tyrant Flycatchers.
Evolutionary History
The Olive-sided Flycatcher likely evolved from an ancestral Contopus species in North America. This ancestor gave rise to the other closely related pewee species as populations became geographically isolated. The white tufts on the flanks of the Olive-sided Flycatcher may have evolved as an adaptation for signaling and display.
More broadly, tyrant flycatchers evolved some of the most sophisticated vocal abilities among birds. Their voices developed in order to communicate effectively in dense Neotropical forests. The family Tyrannidae is believed to have originated in South America and later dispersed northward into North America.
Habitat and Range
The Olive-sided Flycatcher breeds primarily in open coniferous forests, forest edges, and burned or logged areas across Canada and Alaska. Smaller numbers breed in mountainous areas and coastal forests in the western United States. They migrate long distances to wintering grounds in South America across the Amazon Basin.
Threats and Conservation
Olive-sided Flycatcher populations have shown significant declines in recent decades, particularly in the western United States. Major threats include habitat loss and degradation on their breeding and wintering grounds. Climate change may also negatively impact this species. They are a Species of Special Concern in Canada and a Bird of Conservation Concern in the United States.
Conclusion
In summary, the Olive-sided Flycatcher is a tyrant flycatcher in the genus Contopus. Its unique taxonomic classification tells us about its evolutionary relationships to other birds as well as its biology and conservation needs. Understanding taxonomy allows scientists to better study and protect species like the Olive-sided Flycatcher.