LEAST FLYCATCHER 213 



Egg dates.— C^Miovma: 94 records, April 19 to July 21; 48 records, 

 June 6 to 28, indicating the height of the season. 

 Colorado : 9 records, June 25 to July 30. 



Illinois : 32 records, June 8 to July 9 ; 16 records, June 20 to 28. 

 Maine : 20 records, May 15 to July 1 ; 10 records, June 16 to 22. 

 New York : 19 records, June 9 to 28 ; 10 records, June 15 to 21. 

 Oregon: June 8 to July 18; 15 records, June 25 to July 2. 



EMPIDONAX MINIMUS (Baird and Baird) 



LEAST FLYCATCHER 



Plates 27, 28 



HABITS 



The familiar little "chebec," as we used to call it, is widely distrib- 

 uted in the Canadian and Transition Zones of eastern North America, 

 where it is a common and well-known summer resident. In the more 

 thickly settled regions it has become adapted to the environments of 

 human habitations and makes itself at home in our orchards and 

 gardens, in the shade trees about our houses, along the streets of 

 towns and villages, and even in our city parks. It is equally at 

 home along country roads, the borders of streams and ponds, in 

 partially overgrown pastures, and on the edges of the woods. It fre- 

 quents the more open woodlands, rather tlian the denser forests, but 

 shows a decided preference for the rural countryside. On an early 

 morning walk, in spring, along a New England country roadside, one 

 is almost sure to see this sprightly little bird, or at least hear its 

 familiar "chebec." 



The least flycatcher extends its summer range northward in Can- 

 ada as far as it can find deciduous tree growth suited to its needs, 

 Avhere it seems partial to thickets of balsam poplar and quaking 

 aspen; here it also frequents groves of willows along the shores of 

 lakes, and thickets of birches and maples along the streams. 



Prof. Maurice Brooks writes to me : "Least flycatchers are summer 

 residents of the AUeghenian division of the Transition Life Zone. 

 In places they are abundant, their nests placed in either deciduous 

 or coniferous trees at 10 to 20 feet from the ground. They occur in 

 West Virginia at elevations ranging from 1,500 feet to 3,300 feet. 

 I have never found them in the red spruce belt, although they closely 

 approach it." 



Referring to the same general region. Dr. Samuel S. Dickey (MS.) 

 writes: "While most pairs of these birds seemingly prefer to inhabit 

 apple orchards, some of them frequent mixed tracts of pines, spruces, 

 hemlocks, oaks, and birches. They are heard venting their calls 



324726—42 15 



