Part 21

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 20-Oct. 12. Ossining, common S.R., May 10-Oct. 2. Cambridge, common T.V., not uncommon S.R., May 18-Sept. 15. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., May 2-Sept. 27. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., May 9-Sept. 29. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 10-Sept. 23.

In color Phoebe and Pewee are much alike and both are Flycatchers, but the resemblance ends there. Pewee loves the solitude of the forest rather than the sociability of the barnyard, and his pensive pee-a-wee does not even suggest the business-like pewit-phoebe of his better-known cousin. Nor does his dainty lichen-covered nest saddled so skillfully on the limb of a forest tree, recall the Phoebe's bulky moss and mud dwelling. Finally, the Pewee's eggs, laid in May, are wreathed with brown.

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER

Empidonax flaviventris. Case 8. Fig. 61

The entire underparts, including the throat, are unquestionably sulphur-yellow. L. 5-1/2

Range. Eastern North America; nests from northern New York and northern New England northward into Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather common T.V., May; July 28-Oct. 6. Ossining, common T.V., May 17-June 4; Aug. 8-Sept. 20. Cambridge, T.V., sometimes rather common, May 25-June 3; Aug. 28-Sept. 8. N. Ohio, rare T.V., May 10. Glen Ellyn, rather rare T.V., May 20-June 5; Sept. 3. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 19.

Known chiefly as a not common migrant who visits our woods on his journey to and from his northern home. He is a silent traveler and gives no clue to his identity by calling or singing, but his underparts are so much yellower than those of any other of our small Flycatchers that they make a definite field character. Nests in coniferous forests on the ground, laying 4 white, lightly spotted eggs in June.

ACADIAN FLYCATCHER

Empidonax virescens. Case 8, Fig. 60

Throat white, upperparts bright, light olive-green, without tinge of brown as in the Alder Flycatcher.

Range. Eastern North America; rather southern, nesting from Florida north to Connecticut and Michigan; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common S.R., May 1-Sept. 15. Ossining, common S.R., May 10-Aug. 27. N. Ohio, common S.R., May 4-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., May 6-Aug. 27, and probably later.

On the low-sweeping limb of a beech over a stream is an ideal site for the frail nest of the Acadian. The bird is never found far from it and its low-ranging habits permit us to see its characteristic markings and hear its peculiar sudden, explosive little pee-e-yúk and more commonly uttered spee or peet.

The creamy white, brown-spotted eggs are laid the latter part of May.

ALDER FLYCATCHER

Empidonax trailli alnorum. Case 8, Fig. 62

Larger than the Least Flycatcher, but resembling it in having the back olive-brown instead of olive-green as in the Acadian and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. L. 6.

Range. Eastern North America; nests from northern New Jersey (locally) and mountains of West Virginia to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, irregularly common T.V., May 8-May 28; Aug. 16-Sept. 17. Ossining, rare T.V., May 19-May 31; Aug. 29. Cambridge, rare T.V., May 28-June 6; Aug.; occasional in summer.

Traill's Flycatcher (E. t. trailli), a slightly browner bird is the Mississippi Valley form. N. Ohio, common S.R., May 7-Sept. 10. Glen Ellyn, quite common S.R., May 14-Sept. 19. S.E. Minn., common S.R., May 6-Aug. 10.

A rare recluse of the alders who, traveling silently between his summer and his winter homes, makes few friends among men. Dwight describes its call note as "a single pep," and its song as ee-zee-e-up, resembling that of the Acadian. The bird places the nest low down in the crotch of one of the bushes among which it lives and lays 3-4 white, brown-spotted eggs in June.

LEAST FLYCATCHER

Empidonax minimus. Case 6, Fig. 44

Smallest of the Flycatchers; like the Alder Flycatcher its back is olive-brown rather than olive-green; no evident yellow on the underparts. L. 5-1/2.

Range. Eastern North America; nests from Iowa, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common T.V., Apl. 20-May 20; Aug. 13-Sept. 15. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Apl. 25-Aug. 26. Cambridge, very common S.R., May 1-Aug. 25. N. Ohio, common T.V. Apl. 15-May 25; Aug. 25-Oct. 1; rare in summer. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., chiefly T.V., May 4-Sept. 24. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 30-Sept. 13.

A Flycatcher of lawns and orchard, seldom going far from the tree in which its nest with its white eggs is placed. A dry-voiced little bird whose unmusical, but distinctly uttered chebéc, chebéc makes up in character what it lacks in sweetness. Between whiles he swings out for a passing insect only to call chebéc, chebéc, chebéc when he returns to his perch.