198 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



they belong to the usual famihes of stinkbugs, 

 tree-hoppers, leaf-hoppers, and cicadas, with a 

 few assassin bugs. Grasshoppers, crickets, and 

 katydids seem to be among the favorite foods of 

 the Crested Flycatcher. Moths and their larvae 

 are the largest item of the food — over 21 per 

 cent. Adult moths and butterflies are not a 

 favorite food with birds in general ; it is evident 

 that the larvae, or caterpillars, are generally 

 preferred to the adult insects, but the fact that the 

 adults can fly and so can be taken on the wing 

 apparently recommends them to Flycatchers. 

 The Crested Flycatcher does little if anv harm. 



It is a very desirable bird to have about the 

 orchard or garden, since it does not attack any 

 cultivated crop. As its natural nesting site is a 

 cavity in a partially decayed tree, it has often 

 been induced to nest in properly constructed 

 boxes, if such are placed in the orchard or other 

 suitable situations. Mr. Burroughs says: "I 

 have seen it nesting in boxes on Henry Ford's 

 farm in Michigan." (M.S.) Thus it can be in- 

 duced to live in orchards and woodlands not now 

 frequented by it because of the lack of nesting 

 sites, and eventually, no doubt, a substantial in- 

 crease in its numbers can be effected. 



PHCEBE 

 Sayornis phcebe (Latham ) 



A. O. U. Number 456 

 Pewee ; Bridge 



Bean Bird ; Pewit 



Other Names. — Phoebe Bird ; 

 Pewee ; Water Pewee ; Barn Pewee 

 Flycatcher ; Dusky Flycatcher, 



General Description. — Length. 7 inches. Upper 

 parts, grayish-olive ; under parts, yellowish-white. 

 Crown-feathers, erectile ; tail, emarginate. 



Color. — Crown, sides of head, and hindneck dark 

 sooty-brown ; back, shoulders, lesser wing-coverts, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts, plain grayish-olive, paler 

 behind; tail, dusky grayish-brown, the outer webs of 

 feathers passing into light grayish-olive on edges, the 

 outer web of exterior feathers broadly edged with olive- 

 whitish ; wings, dusky with pale grayish-olive edgings, 

 these most conspicuous on greater coverts and second- 

 aries, on innermost of the latter broader and more 

 whitish ; a slight admi.xture of dull whitish on lores 

 (especially upper margin) and on lower eyelid; sides 

 of neck, similar in color to back but slightly paler; 

 under parts, dull yellowish-white, the chin (sometimes 

 upper throat also) intermixed with dusky grayish, the 

 sides of chest and breast, light grayish-olive ; under 

 wing-coverts, yellowish-white or pale primrose-yellow. 



See Color Plate 67 



tinged with pale grayish, the coverts, near margin of 

 wing dusky-grayish centrally; inner webs of wing- 

 feathers, edged with very pale grayish-buffy ; bill, black; 

 iris, brown. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest ; Beneath barn eaves, 

 bridges, culverts, ledges, in fact nearly anywhere that 

 affords protection from the weather; constructed of 

 mud, grass, vegetable fibers, lined with some hair, grass, 

 and feathers, and nearly always decorated exteriorly 

 with green moss. Eggs : 3 to 8, normally 5, pure 

 white, rarely speckled at large end with brownish. 



Distribution. — Eastern United States and more 

 southern British Provinces; north to Maine, northern 

 New York (Adirondack region), northwestern Ontario; 

 Keewatin and southern Mackenzie ; west, at least occa- 

 sionally, to Athabasca (Little Slave Lake), eastern 

 Wyoming, eastern Colorado, northeastern New Mexico 

 and western Texas ; breeding southward to highlands 

 of South Carolina, Louisiana, etc.; winters chiefly 

 within the United States (mostly south of 37°) but 

 migrating to Cuba and eastern and central Mexico ; 

 accidental in southern California. 



Photograph by C. M. Oswalt 



NEST AND EGGS OF PHCEBE 



Courtusy ui Outiny Pub. Co. 



