FLV(\\TC'HERS 



209 



broadly tipped with pale olive, fonniiiK two conspicu- 

 ous bands, of which the rear one is usually the paler, 

 sometimes approaching dull olive-whitish ; secondaries 

 edged with olive-whitish ; lores and an indistinct eye 

 riiif/, olk'c-Zi'liilish. the former intermixed with dusky, 

 especially near front angle of eye; rest of sides of 

 head and sides of neck, similar in color to upper parts 

 but slightly paler and grayer, gradually fading below 

 into the white of chin and throat: chest and sides of 

 breast, pale brownish-gray, the sides similar but paler, 

 fading into pale olive on flanks ; rest of under parts, 

 leliite, tinged with pale primrose-yellow, at least on 

 flanks, anal region, and under tail-coverts ; under wing- 

 coverts, pale primrose-yellow ; inner webs of wing- 

 feathers, edged with pale grayish-buflf ; bill, brown; iris, 

 brown. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest: In forks of shrubs, or 

 buslics near water, one to six feet up; loosely con- 

 structed of vegetable fiber, dried grass, and shreds of 

 bark and lined with fine grass, fern down, and horse- 

 hair. Eggs : 2 to 4, pinkish or yellowish-huffy, spotted 

 and specked around large end with light chestnut or 

 umber-hruwn. 



Distribution. — Western North America ; east, north- 

 erly, to western portion of Great Plains, much farther 

 southerly, breeding in Iowa (?), Missouri, southern 

 Illinois, and probably elsewhere in central Mississippi 

 valley : north to coast district of British Columbia and 

 coast district of southern Alaska (?), northern Idaho, 

 and Montana : south in winter over greater part of 

 Mexico to Central America, Panama, and northwestern 

 South America. 



Traill's Flycatcher is not only energetic and 

 rather restless, which are common characteristics 

 of its tribe, but shows considerable pugnacity 

 especially in the breeding season : then it is ex- 

 ceedingly likely to attack any other bird who 

 comes near its nest. It is often found in willow 

 or alder thickets along streams, both on high 

 plains and in valleys, and in such surroundings 

 its nest is usually built. One observer reports 

 that, in all of the nests he found, the bird had 

 placed the wool and other soft downy substances 

 on the outside of the walls, and had lined the 

 inside with rough stalks and dried grass. The 

 bird has the characteristic Flycatcher habit of 

 flirting its tail frequently and vigorously. 



" In Oregon, Traill's Flycatcher coinmonly 

 nests in a bush often three or four feet from the 

 ground. The nest resembles that of a Yellow 

 \\'arbler both in structure and often in location." 

 (Finley. ) 



A variety of Traill's Flycatcher is found in 

 eastern North America as well as in some of the 

 western districts. The Alder Flycatcher (Empi- 

 donax trailli alnorum) is the brownest of the Fly- 

 catchers. It is rarely found within the depths of 

 the forests; its preference is the swamps which 

 are covered with a low growth of alders, willows, 

 meadowsweet, aiid other low shrubs. There is 

 a great deal of difference of opinion in regard to 

 the Alder's song ; but all the ornithologists agree 

 that it is unlike that of any other Flycatcher. 

 (See Color Plate 68V 



The Traill's and Alder Flycatchers, one or the 

 other of the two forms, occupy in the breeding 

 season the whole of the United States except the 



southeastern part south of northeastern Texas, 

 Arkansas, and the mountains of West Virginia, 

 and extend north into British .\mcrica. In 



Photo by II. K. J jlj I.: urtesy of Outing Pub. Co. 



ALDER FLYCATCHER 

 Female pausing at edge of nest 



winter they retire entirely beyond the southern 

 boundary of the United States. No special dif- 

 ferences in the food habits of the two have been 

 noticed. 



It is evident from their nesting habits that 

 they are not likely to injure any product of in- 

 dustry, and the contents of the stomachs ex- 

 amined corroborate this observation. 



