Plioebe WESTERN BIRDS 



of dried grasses, moss, plant fibers, woolly material and 

 hair. At least two broods are raised. 



Beal says of this western bird: "While the Say Phoebe 

 inhabits California throughout the year, it is locally 

 wanting in summer in many places west of the Sierras. 

 In the fruit-growing regions visited, the writer met with 

 only one individual during the spring and summer 

 months, but these Phoebes became fairly numerous in 

 September, and increased in number as the season ad- 

 vanced." Prof. Beal found the birds to be almost ex- 

 clusively insectivorous, and therefore very beneficial. 



GENUS SAYORNIS: BLACK PHOEBE. 



Black Phoebe: Sayornis nigricans. 

 FAMILY— FLYCATCHERS. 



The bird in the west which most nearly resembles 

 in plumage and habits the eastern bird of this genus, 

 is known as the Black Phoebe and is found as a resident 

 along the coast from southwestern Oregon through Cali- 

 fornia west of the Sierras, east through southern Cali- 

 fornia and Arizona to southern New Mexico and central 

 Texas, and over Mexico (except Gulf Coast) to Yucatan. 



In southern California it is the commonest, most 

 friendly of the flycatchers and is found everywhere — in 

 the city parks, along the streams, in the door yards, and 

 even in the mountains, if perchance there be a stream. 

 Though modest in coloring, their trim, neat appearance, 

 bright black eyes, and pleasing ways, endear them to all. 



It is about seven inches long, has slaty-black upper 

 parts, with head and breast darker; the white breast is 

 V-shaped with the point toward the bird's head; the 

 outer tail feathers are edged with a fine white line. The 



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