392 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



perch to swallow its prey and watch for more. The smaller species are 

 mure readily identified by note, action and nest than by plumage. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



A. Larger species, wing about four inches or over (3.90 to 4.75). B, BB. 

 B. Tail all one color, black or brownish-black. C, CC. 



C. Breast uniform light brownish-gray; belly cinnamon. Say's 



Phoebe. No. 180. 

 CC. Breast dark, mottled olive, divided by a median light stripe; 

 belly yellowish white. Olive-sided Flycatcher. No. 181. 

 BB. Tail not of one color. D, DD. 



D. Tail-feathers blackish with conspicuous white tips; crown with 



a concealed patch of orange. Kingbird. No. 177. 

 DD. Tail-feathers (except middle pair) with the inner vanes bright 

 rufous or chestnut. Crested Flycatcher. No. 178. 

 A A. Smaller species, wing not over 3^ inches. E, EE. 

 E. Wing from 3 to 3^ inches. F, FF. 



F. Tail more than 3i inches. Phoebe. No. 179. 

 FF. Tail less than 3 inches. G, GG. 



G. Upper parts dark olive brown; top of head darker than 



back; two white wing-bars. Wood Pewee. No. 182. 



GG. Upper parts olive green; top of head same shade as back; 



two buffy wing-bars. Acadian Flycatcher. No. 184. 



EE. Wing less than 3 inches. H, HH. 



H. Upper parts olive-brown; throat nearly white. I, II. 



I. Wing 2.60 inches or more; wing-bars -yellowish. Alder 



Flycatcher. No. 185. 



II. Wing 2.60 inches or less; wing-liars white. Least Fly- 



catcher. No. 186. 

 HH. Upper parts olive-green. J, JJ. 



J. Under parts, including throat and belly, pale suli)hur 

 yellow, shaded with olive on sides and breast. Yellow- 

 bellied Flycatcher. No. 183. 



JJ. Throat and belly usually pure white; sides and flanks 

 tinged with yellow. Acadian Flycatcher. No. 184. 



177. Kingbird. Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn.). (444) 



Synonyms: Bee-bird, Bee Martin. — Lanius tyrannus Linn. 1758. — Lanius tyrannus 

 var. carolinensis, Gniel. 1788. — Tyrannus intrepidus, Vieill. — Tyrannus carolinensis 

 J^aird, 1858. 



Plate XLII and Figure 93. 



Easily known by the slate-gray upper parts, pure white under parts, 

 and black tail with conspicuous terminal band of white. The adult has a 

 concealed patch of orange red on the crown which can be displayed or hidden 

 at will. 



Distribution. — North America from the British Provinces south in winter 

 through eastern Mexico, Central and South America. Less common west 

 of the Rocky Mountains. 



The Kingbird is one of our largest and best known flycatchers, universally 



