FLYCATCHERS 261 



5.80-6.25, wing 2.70-2.85, tail 2.35-2.60, biU .64-.73, bill from nostril .35- 

 .40, width at ba.se .27-.31, tarsus .65-.72. Female : length 5.55-0.00, wing 

 2.55-2.05, tail 2.20-2.50. 



Remarks. — The wide bill, whitish under parts, and olive or olive brown 

 — not greenish — upper parts are characteristic. 



Distribution. — AVestern North America from the Mississippi valley to 

 the Pacific, and from the Mackenzie River valley south to Mexico. 



Nest. — In low shrubs or bushes near water, 1 to (5 feet from the ground, 

 made of dry grasses, pine needles, shreds of bark, and plant fibers, lined 

 with fibers, bark, grass tops, fern down, and horsehair. Eggs : 2 to 4, 

 white or pinkish buff, marked with dots or blotches of brown, mostly 

 about the larger end. 



Food. — Largely caterpillars, moths, ants, grasshoppers, and other 

 harmful insects. 



The Traill Hycatcber is said l)y Major Bendire to be especially toiid 

 of ' willow-covered islands, and the shrubbery along watercourses, 

 beaver meadows, aud the borders of the more open mountain 

 parks,' where it sometimes reaches an altitude of 8000 feet, espe- 

 cially in Colorado, Utah, and California. Its note, given in the 

 breeding season, is described by Professor Cooke as a shrill hurried 

 ' pree-pe-deer,' characteristic of the energetic, aggressive disposition 

 of the bird. In hunting, jNIr. Ridgwa}^ says, it never stays long in 

 one place, but moves from perch to perch, snapping up insects as it 

 flies. 



466a. E. t. alnorum Brewst. Alder Flycatcher, 



Similar to Traill flycatcher, but averaging more olivaceous above and 

 more yellow below, the bill shorter aud brudder and tarsus shorter. Male : 

 wing 2.0()-3.0(,>. tail 2.40-2.()0, bill .(JU-.(i4, bill from nostril .32-.o7, width 

 at base .29-.30, tarsus .64-.()7. Female: wing 2.50-2.05, tail 2.2.5-2.35. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Canadian zone in eastern North America from 

 New England west to western Nebraska ; migrates to Central America. 

 Ne.st and eggs. — Like those of the Traill flycatcher. 



467. Empidonax minimus Baird. Least Flycatcher. 



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

 posed culmen ; tail slightly emarginate. Adults : ui)per parts dark olive ; 

 wing bars irhitish; throat whitish; chest washed with gray; belly faintly 

 tinged with pale vellowish. Young : like adults but nu)re olive, and wing 

 bars brown. Male: length 4.1>O-.').50, wing 2.::0-2.()0, tail 2.10-2.40, bill 

 .53-. 50, bill from no.stril .2T-..'51. width at base .23-.27, tarsus .50-.0S. 

 Female: wing 2.20-2.40, tail •J.10--J.25. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Boreal zones in eastern North 

 America from about latitude O;! south to the northern United States: 

 and from tlie Atl.antic west to eastern Colorado and Montana (casually 

 to Utah); migrates to Centr.al America and Panama. 



Xtst. — Compactly made of shreds of bark. ])lant fibers, dry gras-ses, 

 weeds, cocoons, and down, placed usually in bushes or trees in an upright 

 fork from S to 25 feet from the ground. Kggs : 3 to <".. white, unspotted. 



Food. — Insects. 



The che-bii-k' of the friendly little llvcatcher. heard from choke- 



