402 Home Nature-Study Course. 



From this open perch the bird flies up into the air after passing 

 insects, perhaps holding itself poised on its rapidly moving wings 

 while it captures the coveted morsel, then returning to the exact 

 spot from whence it flew. The tail of the dog has always been 

 regarded as an organ most eloquent in expressing the emotions of 

 its owner; the tail of a flycatcher is quite as expressive of the mental 

 activities of the bird, — its movements show plainly an alert, nervous 

 attitude; this twitching seems to indicate that its owner is more 

 than ready to swoop up or down to gather in some unlucky insect 

 which comes within its range of vision. 



There are nine flycatchers which have been found within the boundaries of New 

 York State. They may be distinguished as follows: 



The kingbird is almost black above and has its tail tipped with white in a most 

 striking way. This character alone distinguishes it from the other species. 



The phoebe and the great-crest are somewhat similar in color above, and neither 

 have wing bars which are noticeable. The great-crest is sulphur yellow on the lower 

 side and when in flight the tail is almost cinnamon bro-mi. It lives in the woods 

 especially along water courses, and takes its place high up on the trees and its 

 song is harsh and startling. The phoebe is not noticeably yellow beneath and 

 haunts lowly places; it has a peculiar manner of twitching the tail, giving it a 

 sidewise movement, which is most characteristic. The well-known song of the 

 phoebe distinguishes it from all the others of the group. 



The olive-sided flycatcher is about the size of the phcebe, but is more oUve brown 

 above and has brownish dark sides and breast. Two tufts of white feathers on 

 either side the tail show during flight. Its song is a loud and constant "pip-pip-ee." 

 It is found in the Catskills and the Adirondacks where fire or man has made 

 clearings in the forests. It is rarely seen elsewhere in New York. 



The wood peewee and the least flycatcher or chebec are colored similarly above and 

 have ivory white wing bars. The chebec is only about two-thirds as large as the 

 wood peewee and is much more likely to frequent the oi'chard and trees about the 

 house. The songs of the two described elsewhere are very different and easily 

 distinguishable. 



The alder flycatcher has brownish or grayish wing bars which distinguish it 

 from the chebec and the green-crested, and its under parts are whitish instead of 

 yellow like the yellow bellied. Its throat is pure white, this being another mark 

 that distinguishes it from the chebec, with which it is likely to be confused. It 

 lives in alder thickets, along streams and in swamps. 



The Acadian flycatcher is oUve green above with white throat and whitish 

 breast; its wing bars are buff. It occurs in New York only in the southeastern 

 part of the Hudson Valley; its song is "pe-ah-yuk" or "wake-up." 



The yellow bellied is another small species and is distinguished from the others 

 by having the entire under parts distinctly yellow, shaded with olive on the throat, 

 breast and sides. It occurs only in retired places, having a special liking for low 

 woods and swamps; its song is a short "peioick," it sometimes has a call a little 

 like that of the wood peewee. 



Of all the above flycatchers only the kingbird, the phoebe, the wood peewee and 

 the chebec are common in most localities in New York. Next to these the great- 

 crest and the alder are more commonly found. 



