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I'm in Maine (Little Sebago Lake), and see what appears to be a flycatcher whose breast has dark sides surrounding a white middle stripe.  Fits all of the marks of an olive-sided flycatcher, except it is chestnut-colored, rather than gray-green.  Thoughts?

Welcome tejdev,

You have asked an important and valid question. Many long-time users are probably eager to help you, and will offer you assistance shortly. I'm not an ornithologist just an avid naturalist who loves the adventures of birding. I have field manuals, a list of the birds of Maine and use the eBird web site but none of them are useful for me to help you w/ ID w/o the benefit of a photo to interpret field marks. Through the process of elimination I'd rule out each of the flycatchers localized in your region, like you've tried to do w/ plumage of olive-sided and chestnut. I hope you can re-post w/ a photo attached using the little icon (above the compose page, and limited to 600 KB) then check back frequently for responses by other more seasoned users. Until then, name the bird for the family it's in "unknown Empid." Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Good luck and keep on birding!

Hi tejdev, and welcome to birdforum.  I don't know your experience in recognizing flycatchers from other species, but with the rufous colour I was thinking possibly a female eastern towhee.

 http://web.utk.edu/~dolislag/towhee2.jpg

Certainly a rufous colour does not fit with olive-sided flycatcher.  Was it just the sides that were rufous or the entire back?  Was it perched or on the ground?

Scott