Flycatcher ID

[Rotarran]

I think this is an Olive-sided Flycatcher but just want to confirm.  The only other flycatcher species it could be is the Eastern Wood-pewee but this bird just seems too substantial for that.  

[thouc]

You have narrowed it down to the two alternatives, but I can't say for sure which one from this picture. At first the bill looked all black, but when I look closer, the lower mandible might be orange (Wood-Pewee) and the distinctive (for Olive-sided) white patches on the lower back or the vest are not visible from this angle.

[Rotarran]

Well I was there with Merik and he also got a picture.  Sometimes my camera doesn't quite capture the detail.  Here is his pic:


Neither of us saw the white spots but they're not always visible, are they?  I've never seen them on OSFC before and I've seen them a few times now.

What clinched it for me are the lack of white wingbars.  This bird seems to have nearly none.

[Rotarran]

Also it does have a short tail (Pewee tail is longer) and a fairly large bill that is dark for the most part with just a faint hint of orange (which is not unusual judging from other pics online).

[thouc]

You are probably correct, and Olive-sided does like to sit at the top of trees.

[Rotarran]

Thank you Thouc...I know it seems like I'm trying to convince myself but it does help discussing it.

And yep that's right, it was at (or near) the top of a dead tree (one of the tallest in the park) and there was another bird just below which neither of us noticed until they both flew away.  

Just the overall impression seems to fit as well, big bill, big head, short tail...general impression of a top-heavy flycatcher.  Even the way it flew away...fast, powerful flight like a flycatcher with a jetpack.  Lesser Flycatchers I've observed weren't quite as swift in flight.