EASTERN KINGBIRD 13 



kingbirds were the first to drop out of the flock. They settled in some 

 low scattered trees to rest. There were scores of them, and they 

 made a substantial addition to the large company of kingbirds 

 already in the valley. 



"On both their northward and southward passage through Central 

 America the kingbirds may break their journey and delay for con- 

 siderable periods in some locality which pleases them. Although 

 it is possible that the kingbirds one sees during the course of several 

 weeks in the same vicinity may represent a population whose mem- 

 bers change from day to day, the fact that they roost every night 

 in the same spot is to me rather convincing evidence that the same 

 individuals linger for more than one night's lodging. 



"During the spring migration ,of 1936 the kingbirds roosted 

 nightly for nearly a month, from April 16 to ^lay 11, on a small 

 islet covered with low trees, behind my cabin. I frequently watched 

 them congregate for the night or begin their day's activities. On 

 April 17, late in the afternoon, a large, straggling flock settled in 

 the riverwood trees on the brink of the stream and from these 

 sallied in their spectacular manner into the open space above the 

 channel, or high into the air, to capture flying insects. Long before 

 dark they began to congregate on the little island. They did not 

 immediately settle to rest but wove gracefully among the branches 

 and the long leaves of the wild cane and skimmed above the foliage 

 to snatch up some insect that blundered temptingly close to them. 

 Finally, as dusk deepened, they became quiet among the inner recesses 

 of the foliage where they were so well concealed that I could not, 

 even with my glasses, pick out a single one. While in Central 

 America they rarely utter a sound." 



Courtship. — Ralph Hoffmann (1927) says that the kingbird's "mat- 

 ing performance consists in flying upward, and then tumbling sud- 

 denly in the air, repeating the manoeuvre again and again, all the 

 time uttering its shrill cry." Dr. Charles W. Townsend (1920a) says 

 of it: "The Kingbird executes a series of zig-zag and erratic flights, 

 emitting at the same time a harsh double scream. This is a true 

 courtship flight song." 



These flights take place at no great height from the ground — 15 

 or 20 feet, perhaps, above the top of an apple tree. The dives are 

 usually short, quick dips, accompanied by accented notes, and in 

 between them the wings flutter jerkily as the bird rises again or 

 progresses a short distance on a level. Occasionally, however, the 

 dip is much deeper — a long, slow dive. I find in my notes of July 

 28, 1909, that I observed their curious flight evolutions many times. 

 They flew out from a treotop, half flying and half hovering, then, 

 with wings almost still, but just quivering, they slowly dropped 



