BIRDS OF NEW YORK 1 83 



Distribution. The Kingbird breeds from British Columbia, Macken- 

 zie, Quebec and Newfoundland south to New Mexico and Florida, and 

 spends the winter from southern Mexico to Bolivia and British Guiana. 

 In New York it is a common summer resident in all portions of the State 

 except the interior of the densely forested regions, but it invades the Catskill 

 and Adirondack districts along the clearings and river valleys to the edge 

 of the spruce and balsam forests. In the cultivated portions it is one of 

 the commonest of our dominant species, among the flycatchers ranking 

 next to the Phoebe and the Wood pewee in abundance. It arrives from 

 the south from the 25th of April to the 10th of May and departs for the 

 south from September 15th to 30th. 



Habits. The Kingbird inhabits orchards, pastures, hedgerows and 

 roadsides. It is a common sight to see this bird seated on the top of a 

 mullein stalk, fence post, telegraph wire or the peak of an apple tree, on 

 the lookout for beetles, bees, grasshoppers, moths and flying insects of all 

 kinds. Whenever he sees an attractive insect he swoops down and snaps 

 him up with perfect precision. If a hawk or crow approaches the limits of 

 his domain he immediately gives chase. Mounting above the intruder he 

 darts down and striking him on the top of the head or the back drives him 

 rapidly from the neighborhood. In this way he renders efficient service in 

 keeping crows and hawks away from the chicken yard. On the other hand, 

 most beekeepers denounce the Kingbird because of the great number of 

 bees which he destroys. Examination of stomachs, however, has shown 

 repeatedly that he prefers the drones to the worker bees, and consequently 

 does no great damage ; but unquestionably at times he becomes too destruc- 

 tive when he makes his home in the immediate vicinity of a beehive. The 

 nest of the Kingbird is usually constructed in an apple tree, thorn bush 

 or shade tree of any species, at a height of from 6 to 20 feet from the ground. 

 I have even known of its being placed on the top of an old fence post and 

 in vines overrunning a stone wall. It is composed of straws, weeds and 

 roots, lined with rootlets, soft bark, fine grasses, hair and wool. The eggs 

 are usually 4 to 5 in number laid from the 25th of May to the 15th of June, 



