BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER 259 



Enemies. — Squirrels probably destroy some eggs and young of this 

 flycatcher, as the birds have been seen to drive away these animals. 

 Long-crested jays are common in the same region with the flycatchers, 

 and Mr. Willard thinks that they undoubtedly rob some nests. Mr. 

 Lusk blames the jays for some damage and mentions lizards as pos- 

 sible enemies. We found sharp-shinned hawks nesting in the same 

 vicinity, which are well-known enemies of all small birds. These little 

 flycatchers are adept at concealing their nests and very courageous in 

 their defense. 



Field marks. — Its posture and actions mark it as a flycatcher. It is 

 the smallest of its tribe in the region where it lives, except for the 

 tiny beardless flycatcher, which is said to appear more like a verdin 

 than a flycatcher. Its general color is buff, quite unlike any other North 

 American flycatcher, and the warm buff of its breast is particularly 

 noticeable when facing the light ; it seems to glow with warmth in the 

 sunlight. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — ^Arizona, New Mexico, and Central America south to 

 Honduras. 



Breeding range. — The breeding range of the buff -breasted flycatcher 

 extends north to central Arizona (Fort Whipple) and New Mexico 

 (Inscription Eock) . East to western New Mexico (Inscription Rock, 

 Apache Canyon, and Fort Bayard) ; Veracruz (Las Vigas) ; and Hon- 

 duras (Cerro Cantoral). South to Honduras (Cerro Cantoral) ; El 

 Salvador (San Jose del Sacare) ; and southern Guatemala (Duenas, 

 Lake Atitlan, and Quezaltenango). West to western Guatemala 

 (Quezaltenango) ; Morelos (Cuernavaca) ; Nayarit (Tepic) ; western 

 Durango (Cienega de las Vacas) ; western Chihuahua (Pinos Altos 

 and Pacheco) ; and Arizona (Santa Eita Mountains, Santa Catalina 

 Mountains, and Fort Whipple). 



Winter range. — The species is resident in the southern part of the 

 range but migratory in the United States. During the winter season 

 it is found north to southern Sonora (Tesia and Guiricoba) ; southern 

 Chihuahua (Durazno) ; and northeastern Puebla (Huehuetlan) . 



The range as outlined is for the entire species, which has been sepa- 

 rated into several geographic races. Only one of these {Empido-nax 

 fulvifrons pygmaeus) is found in the United States, ranging south in 

 summer from Arizona and New Mexico to Durango, and in winter to 

 Michoacan and Morelos. 



Spring migration. — Early dates of spring arrival are: Arizona — 

 Santa Eita Mountains, April 5; Chiricahua Mountains, April 12. 

 New Mexico — Fort Bayard, April 16; Silver City, April 26. 



Fall migration. — Data indicative of the fall movement are not satis- 

 factory, but late dates of departure appear to be: New Mexico — 



