The Bird Book Part 61

[Ill.u.s.tration 294: Guy H. Briggs.

NEST AND EGGS OF WOOD PEWEE.]

Page 293

462. WESTERN WOOD PEWEE. _Myiochanes richardsoni richardsoni._

Range.--Western United States from the Plains to the Pacific, and from Manitoba southward, wintering south of the United States.

The nesting habits of this bird are the same as those of the eastern Pewee, but their nests are more strongly built and generally deeper, and without the outside ornamentation of lichens. They are saddled upon horizontal branches, like those of the preceding, as a rule, but are also said to have been found in upright crotches like those of the Least Flycatcher. Their three or four eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the eastern Wood Pewee.

462a. LARGE-BILLED WOOD PEWEE. _Myiochanes richardsoni peninsulae._

Range.--This species which differs from the last only slightly, as is indicated by the name, inhabits the peninsula of Lower California; its nesting habits and eggs will not differ from those of the other Pewees.

463. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax flaviventris._

Range.--North America, east of the Plains and north to Labrador; winters south of the United States.

This species is slightly larger than the Least Flycatcher and is more yellowish above and below, the breast being quite bright. While common in some districts it is quite shy and frequents thickly wooded regions, where it is not very often seen. They nest near or on the ground among rocks or roots of fallen trees, chiefly in swampy places; the nests are made in bunches of moss, hollowed out and lined with very fine gra.s.ses.

Their four eggs are creamy or buffy white, spotted and speckled about the larger end with reddish brown and gray; size .68 .51.

464. WESTERN FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax difficilis difficilis._

Range.--Western North America, from the Rocky Mountain region to the Pacific, and north to Alaska; winters chiefly south of the United States.

This Flycatcher, which is similar to the last, nests in similar locations as well as in many others, such as crevices and fissures in rocks, holes in banks, cavities in trees, rafters in buildings, etc. The nests are variously made, but consist chiefly of fine gra.s.ses, weeds and fibres. The eggs are as a rule similar to those of the last species and cannot be distinguished.

[Ill.u.s.tration 295: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Acadian Flycatcher.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Creamy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Creamy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 294

464a. SAN LUCAS FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax difficilis cineritius._

Range.--Lower California.

This species is similar to, but duller in plumage than the Western Flycatcher. Their nesting habits do not probably vary from those of the latter.

465. ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax virescens._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to southern New England, and in the Mississippi Valley to Manitoba.

This species is very pale below and greenish yellow on the back. They are among the latest of the migrants to reach our borders and arrive in the Middle States about the latter part of May, when they are quite common. They build semi-pensile nests in the forks of bushes or overhanging branches at heights of from four to twenty feet, the nests being made of rootlets, fibres, fine gra.s.ses, etc., and partially suspended from the branch; they are quite shallow and loosely constructed and often appear more like a bunch of debris deposited in the fork by the wind than like the creation of a bird. Their three or four eggs are buffy, spotted or specked with brown; size .75 .55.

466. TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax trailli trailli._

Range.--Western North America, from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific; winters south of the United States.

This species is very similar to the next, but the back is said to be more brownish. They are common and nest abundantly in thickets and low scrubby woods, usually placing the nest at a low elevation, preferably in a clump of willows; the nests are made of fine strips of bark, plant fibres, and very fine rootlets being woven about and firmly fastened in upright crotches. Their eggs, which are laid in June, are buffy white, specked and spotted, chiefly at the large end, with brownish; size .70 .54.

[Ill.u.s.tration 296: 464--466.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Buffy.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Creamy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 295

466a. ALDER FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax trailli alnorum._

Range.--United States, east of the Mississippi and north to New Brunswick.

The only difference between this and the preceding variety is in the more greenish upper parts. They are quite abundant in the breeding season from New England and northern New York northward, frequenting, to a great extent, alder thickets bordering streams. Their nests and eggs do not differ appreciably from those of the western variety of Traill Flycatcher.

467. LEAST FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax minimus._

Range.--North America, east of the Rockies and north to the interior of Canada, wintering south of the United States.

These little birds (5.5 inches long) are common about houses and orchards on the outskirts of cities, and on the edges of forests or open woods. They are very frequently known by the name of Chebec from their continually uttered note. In nearly all instances, the nests are placed in upright forks at elevations varying from four to twenty-four feet from the ground. The nests are made chiefly of plant fibres, fine gra.s.ses, string, cobwebs, etc., and the three to five eggs are pale creamy white; size .65 .50.

468. HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax hammondi._

Range.--North America, west of the Rockies and from British Columbia southward, wintering south of the United States.

This western representative of the Least Flycatcher is less abundant and more shy, but has the same nesting habits as the eastern birds, placing its nests either in upright crotches or, more rarely, upon horizontal branches at a low elevation. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the last species.

469. WRIGHT'S FLYCATCHER. _Empidonax wrighti._

Range.--Western United States, breeding from the Mexican border to Oregon and wintering south of the United States.

A very similar bird to the last but whiter below. It is a much more abundant species than the last and is found breeding in open woods and thickets on all the ranges. The nests are built like those of the Least Flycatcher and nearly always are found in the crotch of trees or bushes at a low elevation; their nests, like those of the two preceding species, bear a strong resemblance to those of the Yellow Warblers which are found in the same localities and locations. The eggs are pale creamy white, four in number and measure .68 .52.

[Ill.u.s.tration 297: Least Flycatcher.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 462--469--469.1.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]