Flycatcher WESTERN BIRDS 



and is made of grasses, stems, and plant down, being 

 more cup-shaped than that of Acadian. 



GENUS EMPIDONAX: HAMMOND'S 

 FLYCATCHER. 



Hammond's Flycatcher: Empidonax hdmmondi, 

 FAMILY— FLYCATCHERS. 



On the western coast, breeding from Alaska to south- 

 em California and Colorado, is found the Hammond's 

 Flycatcher, which passes its winters south of the United 

 States. 



It is about five and one-half inches long; grayish- 

 olive above and slightly lighter below, with throat whit- 

 ish, and belly yellowish; wing bars and eye-ring solid 

 white; tail usually more forked than in other species; 

 outer tail feathers usually whitish-edges externally, a 

 character also sometimes shown in Traill's and the Least 

 Flycatchers. The bill is smaller and narrower than any 

 member of this genus except the Buff-breasted which is 

 found only in southern Arizona and New Mexico. 



According to Willett this bird is a migrant, only, in 

 southern California, being seen as such mostly in the 

 canyons and mesas along the base of the mountains. 

 Farther up the coast it places its nest on a horizontal 

 limb in the open, much as does the Wood Pewee, using 

 fir trees, willows, cottonwoods and aspens. Because of 

 its dull plumage it is sometimes called the Dirty Little 

 Flycatcher. It most nearly resembles the Least of any 

 of the eastern members of the genus, the call being given 

 in a similar way but is different. Dawson gives it as 

 sewick, or Swee-chew; Coues a soft pit. 



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