THE KINGBIRD 



Flycatcher Family — Tyrannidos 



Length: About 8i/^> inches. 



Male and Female: Upper parts dark gray; under parts pure 

 white, with an indistinct grayish wash at the sides of 

 the breast; head grayish-black, slightly crested, with 

 a concealed orange patch; bill with bristles at the 

 base; wing-feathers and upper tail-coverts tipped ol 

 edged with white; tail fan-shaped in flight, showing 

 a broad white band at the end. 



Note: An unmusical, rattling Squeak-squeak? squeak-squeak- 

 squeak? uttered frequently, and apparently in an 

 irritated mood. The sharply hooked beak and fierce- 

 looking eye also give the appearance of pugnacity. 



Habitat: Orchards, trees by roadsides, and near farm-build- 

 ings. One looks for the kingbird in open country, 

 not in woodlands; he seeks conspicuous perches. 

 The nests are placed in trees — in those of orchards 

 preferably. 



Range : North and South America. Breeds from South-central 

 Canada and throughout the United States except in 

 the south-west; winters from Mexico to South 

 America. 



NO more interesting description of the Kingbird has 

 come to my attention than that by Major Bendire. 

 He writes as follows: 



"Few of our birds are better known throughout the 

 United States than the Kingbird. Bold and fearless in 

 character, yet tame and confiding in man, often prefer- 

 ring to live in close proximity to dwellings, in gardens 



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