I.i>ast Flycatcher 



PERCHING BIRDS 



466a. Alder Flycatcher. 



EmpifJona.T frailli alnorum. 



Range. — United States, east of the Mississippi 

 and north to New Brunswick. 



The only difference between this and the pre- 

 ceding variety is in the more greenish upper 

 parts. They are quite abundant in tlie breed- 

 ing season from New England and northern 

 New York northward, frequenting, to a great 

 extent, alder thickets bordering streams. Their 

 nests and eggs do not differ appreciably from 

 those of the western variety of Traill Fly- 

 catcher. 



467. Least Flycatcher. 



Empidohax minimus. 



Range. — North America, east of the Rockies 

 and north to the interior of Canada, wintering 

 south of the United States. 



These little birds (.5.5 inches 



long) are common about houses 



^^ and orchards on the outskirts of cities, and on the edges of for- 



'■h^^^^ ests or open woods. They are very frequently known by the 



^^HiJP*^ name of Chebec from their continually uttered note. In nearly 



„, all instances, the nests are placed in upright forks at elevations 



^^ ^ varying from four to twenty-four feet from the ground. The 



nests are made chiefly of plant fibres, fine grasses, string, cobwebs, etc., and 



the three to five eggs are pale creamy white; size .65 x .50. 



468. Hammond's Flycatcher. Empidonax hammondi. 



Range. — North America, west of the Rockies and from British Columbia south- 

 ward, wintering south of the United States. 



This western representative of the Least 

 Flycatcher is less abundant and more shy, 

 but has the same nesting habits as the east- 

 prn birds, placing its nests either in upright 

 crotches or, more rarely, upon horizontal 

 branches at a low elevation. The eggs can- 

 not be distinguished from those of the last 

 species. 

 KiP. Wright's Flycatcher. Empidonax wrighti. 



Range. — Western United States, breeding from the Mex- 

 i( an border to Oregon and wintering south of the United 

 States. 



A very similar bird to the last but whiter 

 ^ ~^ below. It is a much more abundant species 



than the last and is found breeding In open 

 woods and thickets on all the ranges. The 

 ^^jM^^' nests are built like those of the Least Fly- 

 ^^■BP"^ catcher and nearly always are found in 

 the crotch of trees or bushes at a low ele- 

 atlon; their nests, like those of the two 

 preceding species, bear a strong resemblance to those of 

 ^^^ the Yellow Warblers which are found in the same locali- 



ty??' J^Bl ^5^ ' *'^^ ^"•^ locations. The eggs are pale creamy white, four 

 in number and measure .68 x .52. 



White 



WhltP 



462 — 469 — 489.1 



295 



