276 Birds of Colorado 



Description. — Closely resembling E. trailli, but slightly richer in colour, 

 and the wing-bands a cleaner white. At once distinguishable, however, 

 by its distinctly emarginate tail, and by its smaller size. The amount 

 of yellow on the under-surface varies considerably, but the throat is 

 always pure white ; lower mandible pale dusky. Length 4-90 ; wing 

 2-55 ; tail 2-20 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -55. 



Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America from the eastern 

 base of the Rocky Slountains in Athabasca and western Texas to Prince 

 Edward Island and North Carolina ; southward in winter through 

 eastern Mexico and Central America to northern Peru. 



In Colorado the Least Flycatcher has only been foimd, as a regular, 

 though rather rare spring migrant, on the eastern plains and foothills 

 of the State. It has not hitherto been found nesting, though it probably 

 does so ; nor has it been met with in or west of the Rocky Mountains. 

 It has been noticed in the following localities only : Loveland, May 

 12th (Cooke) ; Denver, May 12th to 17th (Henshaw) ; El Paso cc, 

 May 13th to June 6th, Elbert co.. May 21st, Lincola co.. May 22nd 

 to 27th, and Fremont co.. May 11th (Aiken) ; Baca co.. May 13th 

 (Warren). 



Habits. — This little Flycatcher is a common bird in 

 the east, where it is often kno\vn as the "Chebec," from 

 its call ; it prefers open, cultivated country, and can often 

 be seen in orchards and hedgerows ; it is an exceedingly 

 restless creature, constantly flitting about and darting 

 after insects. 



Hammond's Flycatcher. Empidonax haimnondi. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 468— Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 184 ; 

 Trippe 74, p. 258 ; Henshaw 75, p. 362 ; Minot 80, p. 231 ; Allen & 

 Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 

 89, p. 146 ; Bendire 92, p. 315 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 89, 

 209 ; Oilman 07, p. 155 ; Henderson 09, p. 233. 



Description. — Closely resembling E. minimus, with the tail distinctly 

 emarginate, but the bill narrower and the wing, tail and middle toe 

 longer. Below the ashy shading on the breast is darker and more 

 widely spread, extending over the throat, which is not distinctly white ; 

 tenth (outer) primary equal to the fifth. As in E. m,inimu8, there are 

 two distinct colour phases, some individuals being strongly washed 

 with pale yellow below, others being vvithout any trace of yellow ; 

 the bulk of specimens are intermediate, and the differentiation does 

 not seem to depend on age, sex or season. Length 5-10 ; wing 2-85 ; 

 tail 2-40 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -60. 



