FAMILY TYRANNIDAE 383 



Jamaica. The principal information regarding it in Panama is from 

 records by Eugene Eisenmann. His earliest dates of arrival are 

 August 28. 1958. at Galeta Point, and August 29, 1954. at Fort 

 Sherman. By the end of September they are more common and re- 

 main in small numbers through the winter. While during migration 

 they may be found in small flocks, in the winter months they are seen 

 usually as scattered individuals. Horace Loftin recorded them on 

 November 23. 1962, along the highway from Penonome, Code, to 

 Chitre, Herrera. In January and February I have recorded single 

 birds occasionally at Panama Vieja, and at Ancon, Canal Zone. 

 I collected a female at Monagrillo, Herrera, February 25, 1948. 

 Wedel secured several during his work at Perme and Puerto Obaldia. 

 San Bias. The northward migration seems to begin in March. 

 Eisenmann noted small migrant flocks at the old La Joya airfield 

 east of Pacora, Panama, INIarch 12, 1969. He has records of others 

 from J. E. Ambrose, at Fort Davis, Canal Zone, April 24 and 27, 

 1961. Mrs. Sturgis (Field Book Birds Panama Canal Zone, 1928, 

 p. 330) saw one on Sosa Hill, Canal Zone, April 11, 1926. 



While they are seen regularly capturing insects on the wing, they 

 also feed extensively on the fruit of royal palm, fig, and other trees. 



TYRANNUS MELANCHOLICUS Vieillot: Tropical Kingbird, 

 Pitirre Tropical 



Figure 36 



Medium size ; white to gray throat, yellow breast and abdomen ; tail 

 long and deeply notched at the end. 



Description. — Length 195-215 mm. Adult male, five outer pri- 

 maries with tips distinctly incised, the sixth somewhat narrowed at 

 distal end. Crown and hindneck rather light gray ; a large concealed 

 central reddish-orange crown patch, underlaid posteriorly and at 

 sides with light yellow and white ; back, scapulars, and rump grayish 

 olive-green ; upper tail coverts dark olive, usually tipped narrowly 

 with grayish olive-green ; tail dusky, tipped and edged narrowly with 

 dull white ; wings dusky grayish brown ; lesser and middle wing 

 coverts edged with gray ; greater coverts and secondaries edged with 

 grayish white ; lores gray, becoming dusky in front of eye ; a dull 

 dusky line across auricular area ; chin and throat white to grayish 

 white ; upper breast light yellowish olive ; lower breast and abdomen 

 yellow ; flanks and under tail coverts light yellow ; axillars and under 

 wing coverts yellowish white ; inner webs of wing feathers grayish 

 white. 



