THE WESTERN WOOD PEWEE. 383 



No. 147. 

 WESTERN WOOD PEWEE. 



A. O. U. No. 462. Myiochanes richardsonii (Swains.). 



Synonyms. — Short-lkcckd Pku'io-:. Ricii.ardson's Pewee. 



Description. — .liliilts: Above deep grayish brown or grayish oHvc-brown ; 

 a lighter shade of same continued around sides and across breast, hghtening on 

 chin and throat, on remaining underparts becoming white or yellowish white; 

 middle and greater coverts tipped with grayish ; outer webs of tertials edged with 

 grayish white. Bill black above, dusky (never light) below. Young birds have 

 the middle and greater coverts tipped with huffy ( forming two not inconspicuous 

 bars), and some buffy edging on rump and upper tail-coverts. This species bears a 

 curiously close resemblance to M. vircns of the East, insomuch that it is not 

 always possible to separate specimens in the cabinent ; yet the two are perfectly 

 distinct in note and habit and are not suspected of intergradation. Length of 

 adult males 6.00-6.50 (152.4-165.1); wing 3.43 (Sy); tail 2.60 ('66); bill .51 

 (13); tarsus .53 (13.4). Females a little smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; dark coloration (appearing blackish), 

 — but much darker and a little larger than any of the JSiiipidoiiaccs. Mccaccr note 

 of animated melancholy distinctive. 



Nesting. — Nest: a shallow cup of compacted moss, grasses, rootlets, etc., 

 lined with fine grasses and wool or hair, and dccoratefl externally, or not, 

 with lichens ; saddled midway or in fork of horizontal limb, chiefly at moderate 

 heights. Eggs: usually 3, sometimes 4, creamy white, marked by largish spots of 

 distinct and obscure rufous brown or umber, chiefly in open wreath about larger 

 end. Av. size, .71 x .55 ( 18 x 14). Season: June lo-July 10; one brood. 



General Range. — Western North America ; breeding north to Alaska and 

 Northwest Territnr)-, east to Manitoba and western portion of Great Plains to 

 Texas, south to northern Mexico; south in winter over ]\Icxico and Central 

 America to Equador. Peru, and Bolivia. 



Range in Washington. — Common summer resident and migrant east of the 

 Cascades, chiefly in coniferous forests, occasionally in open sage; less common 

 west of the mountains. 



Migrations. — S faring: c. May 15: Tacoma May 5. 1907; Yakima May 14, 

 1895, May 15. 1900; Newport IMay 20, 1906; Conconnully May 2/. 1896. 7^(7// .• 

 c. Sept. I. 



Authorities. — ["Western Wood Pewee," Johnson, Rej). (jOv. W. T. 1884 

 (1885), 22. 1 ? Mnscicapa richardsonii. Aud. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, pi. 434. 

 [Contopus richardsonii, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, 189, 190. "Colum- 

 bia River O. T. T. K. Townsend."] Canto t^us richardsonii}?) Belding, P. B. P. 

 D. 1890, p. 99 (Walla Walla, Dr. ]. W. Williams). L'. Rh. D'. Kb. Ra. D-\ 

 J. B. E. 



Specimens.— U. of W. P'. Prov. B. E. 



