252 BULLETIN 17 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



ern, but though often found in the same general region, is re- 

 stricted to willow thickets and to bushy places in wet mountain 

 meadows. * * * The Western Flycatcher, though it also affects 

 the neighborhood of strea,ms, demands for its hunting a certain amount 

 of open space in the shade of tall trees of mixed growth ; neither the 

 Western nor the Wright would be found regularly in the dense willow 

 thickets which the Traill prefers." Wright's flycatcher is more likely 

 to be found at higher elevations on the mountain slopes, and Ham- 

 mond's frequents the tall coniferous forests. But the best character 

 by which these species may be distinguished is the call note or song, 

 which the keen ear of a good observer can learn to recognize, as the 

 notes of the four are quite different; when the birds are not singing, 

 identification is often almost hopeless. 



Fall. — Mr. Rathbun says in his notes from Seattle : "After the end 

 of the breeding season, when its young are on the wing, this flycatcher 

 appears to move about the country, for it is apt to be heard or seen 

 almost anywhere, even at times in the cities and towns. This move- 

 ment is but preliminary to its fall migration, which takes place in 

 September, and after late in this month the species is no longer seen." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, and Western 

 United States and Mexico. 



Breeding range. — The western flycatcher breeds north to south- 

 eastern Alaska (Sitka and Juneau) ; east-central British Columbia 

 (Salmon River Forks) ; Montana (Belt River Canyon) ; northern 

 Wyoming (Yellowstone Park and Sheridan) ; and probably western 

 South Dakota (Box Elder). East to probably western South Da- 

 kota (Box Elder) ; southeastern Wyoming (Wlieatland) ; Colorado 

 (Estes Park, Goldhill, and Hancock) ; New Mexico (Twining, Sac- 

 ramento Mountains, and Guadalupe Mountains) ; and western Texas 

 (Chisos Mountains). South to southwestern Texas (Chisos Moun- 

 tains) ; Chihuahua (Pinos Altos) ; Nayarit (Isabela Island) ; and 

 northern Baja California (San Fernando). The western limit of 

 the breeding range extends northward from northern Baja Califor- 

 nia (San Fernando and Vallecitos), along the coasts and islands of 

 California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, to south- 

 eastern Alaska (Forrester Island, Ketchikan, and Sitka). 



Winter range. — The winter range of the western flycatcher is in 

 western Mexico from southern Baja California (La Paz and San 

 Jose del Rancho) and southern Sonora (Chinobampo, Tesia, and 

 Alamos) south to southern Guerrero (Coyuca and Chilpancingo) 

 and Oaxaca (Pluma). 



