NORTHERN CRESTED FLYCATCHER 117 



not hunting it often sails from one tree to another on motionless 

 wings and spread tail, after the well-known manner of the blue jay. 

 It is quite intolerant and aggressive toward small birds that approach 

 its nest or even enter its territory; but it does not seem to care to 

 attack crows and hawks, as the kingbird does, perhaps for the ob- 

 vious reason that its eggs and young, often deep down in a hollow, 

 are less accessible to these large birds. 

 Dr. Gabrielson (1915) writes: 



A Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Flicker came 

 to the tree at various times. The woodpeckers wex'e driven away by the Great 

 Crests, but they paid no attention to the Chickadee. * * * 



A Cowbird came into the nest tree while the female was in the nest, sneaked 

 to the nest opening and looked in. What she saw was evidently not reassuring 

 as she quickly backed away and flew off. 



A squirrel crossing the glade was vigorously attacked and made to scamper 

 for refuge to the nearest tree. Once safely there he turned and expressed 

 his opinion of the Great Crest in shrill and violent language. 



The most vicious performance which I witnessed was an attack on an im- 

 mature Bronzed Grackle. He blundered into the nest tree while the male was 

 sitting on one of the topmost branches, and had hardly settled himself when he 

 was struck a violent blow from behind and sent spi'awling to the ground. He 

 lay there squawking for a few moments and then started to fly away. Hardly 

 had he lifted himself from the ground when another blow on the back of the 

 head caused him to turn a complete somersault into a small bush. He crawled 

 out on the side opposite the nest and flew away without being further molested. 

 The Great Crest used both beak and wings in the attack and the second blow 

 took several feathers out of the grackle's head. 



As we enter the nesting territory, even while we are some distance 

 from the nest tree, the birds set up a loud outcry; and, as we draw 

 nearer, they become more excited, flying about nervously, uttering 

 their loud alarm or challenge notes, with crests erected and bills snap- 

 ping. But when we have actually discovered the nest, they are apt 

 to withdraw in silence, or sit and watch us quietly. They seldom 

 offer to attack a human intruder, though Dr. Gabrielson (1915) says: 

 "Wlien the nestlings were taken out of the nest on July 13 they made 

 a great fuss and the parents answered them for a few moments. 

 This noise soon ceased and the adults, particularly the female, made 

 a desperate attack on our party, flying about our heads and at our 

 faces. Finally, even this stopped, and the female alighted on a 

 branch about fifteen feet away and kept silent watch of the pro- 

 ceedings." 



Voice. — Its voice is one of the most prominent characteristics of 

 the crested flycatcher, as it is so much oftener heard than seen. It 

 has been referred to as a harsh squeak, but I have never heard it make 

 a sound that could be called harsh or squeaky; its commonest note 

 seems more like a loud, rather musical whistle, suggesting, in quality 



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