ARKANSAS KINGBIBD. 



447. Tyrannus verticalis. 9 inches. 



These tyrant flycatchers are abundant west of the Mis- 

 sissippi, where they are often, and perhaps more aptly, 

 known as the Western Kingbirds. If possible, they are 

 even more noisy and pugnacious than the eastern species. 

 They have a great variety of notes, all rather unpleasant 

 to the ear. Their food, like that of the other Kingbirds, 

 consists of moths, butterflies, ants, grasshoppers, crick- 

 etc, etc., most of which they catch on the wing. 



Note. — A shrill, metallic squeak ; a low twittering 

 and a harsh, discordant scream, all impossible to print. 



Nest. — Quite large and clumsily made of paper, rags, 

 twigs, rootlets and grasses, placed in all sorts of loca- 

 tions, frequently in eave troughs or above windows. 

 The eggs are creamy white, spotted with brown (.95 x 

 .65). 



Range. — Western United States, breeding from Texas 

 to Manitoba and west to the Pacific; winters south of 

 U. S. 



