260 FLYCATCHERS 



464. Empidonax difficilis Baird. Western Flycatcher. 



Adults — Upper parts olivaceous (brownish in winter), wing bars dull 

 buffy (brig-hter in winter); under parts dull yellow, shaded 

 with brown across breast, brightening- to sulphur yellow on 

 belly and under tail coverts ; under wing coverts bu£Ey, 

 deepening to ochraceous on edge of wing ; width of bill at 

 nostrils decidedly greater than half the length of exposed 

 culmen. Young : similar, but browner above, with wing- 

 bands yellowish brown or rusty buff, sulphur yellow of belly 

 replaced by dull white. Length : 5.50-G.OO. Male : wing 

 Fig. 339. 2.50-2.90, tail 2.85-2.(30, bill .57-.63, bill from nostril .29- 

 .88, width at base .25-.28, tarsus .64-.69. Female : wing 2.80-2.60, tail 

 2.20-2.45. 



Remarks. — The distinct yellow tone of the under parts distinguishes 

 difficilis from all western flycatchers. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Canadian zones from the east- 

 ern foothills of the Rocky Mountains and adjacent ranges to the Pacific, 

 and from southern Alaska south to northern Lower California ; migrates 

 to Costa Rica. 



Nest. — Usually not far from water, in alders, trees, stumps, roots, under 

 stream banks, on rock ledges, in natural cavities, or about buildings ; 

 made of plant stems and fibers, down, inner bark, rootlets, leaves, and 

 moss, lined with horsehair and feathers, often coated with green moss. 

 Eggs : 3 or 4, white, blotched and spotted with brown and buff pink. 

 Food. — Largely injurious insects. 



The western flycatcher is a widely distributed bird, as Mr. Allen 

 says, shade apparently being its principal requirement, for it ranges 

 from the lowlands almost to timberline. It is said to have a song 

 and a sweet call, beside a sharp chirp uttered when angry or 

 frightened. 



464.2. Empidonax insulicola Oberh. Santa Barbara Fly- 

 catcher. 



Adidt male. — Upper parts olive brown, slightly darker on head and 

 paler and more greenish on rump ; wings with two conspicuous brownish 

 white bars ; throat grayish, faintly washed with yellow ; rest of under parts 

 straw yellow, slightly tinged on breast and sides with olive brown. Wing : 

 2.68, tail 2.40, exposed culmen .47, tarsus .88. 



Remarks. — E. insulicola differs from E. difficilis in its darker upper 

 parts and paler under parts, the breast having little of the brown wash of 

 difficilis. 



Distribution- — Santa Barbara Islands, California. 



Nest. — In the side of a cliff, a cave, or pocket in a boulder, made of 

 strips of bark and vegetable fibers. Eggs : 2 or 8, white or creamy, dotted 

 with reddish about the larger end. 



466. Empidonax traillii (Imo?.). Traill Flycatcher. 



Width of bill at nostrils decidedly greater than half the length of ex- 

 posed culmen. Adults: ei/e ring whitish ; upper parts olive, darker on head 

 from dusky centers of coronal feathers ; wing bars varying from brownish 

 to whitish ; under parts white, shaded with gray across breast, tinged with 

 yellow beneath ; under wing coverts yellowish white. Young : browner 

 above, yellower beneath : wing bands buff or yellowish brown. Male : length 



