Land Birds of Sac County_, Iowa 121 



Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica). 



For many years, I saw no swifts in Wall Lake, noting the first 

 May 28, 1908. I have seen it every year since then, the dates of 

 the first arrivals varying from April 26 to May 19. Old residents 

 of the town report that the species formerly nested in the chim- 

 neys of houses. I have also seen it flying over the towns of Od^- 

 bolt, Lake View, and Sac City. In October, 1917, I found an aban- 

 doned chimney swift's nest in an empty silo at Belle Plaine, Iowa. 



Ruby-throated Hummingbird (ArcliilocJius cohibris). 



This tiny bird is usually a rare migrant, but in occasional 

 years I have found it an abundant migrant, frequenting the apple 

 orchards when these are in bloom. First seen dates vary from 

 May 7 to May 30. It has been reported as nesting, but I have 

 never seen it in summer except during August, when I took U 

 to be a migrant. 



Kingbird (Tyranniis tyranmi,s). 



A common summer resident. The dates of first arrival vary 

 from April 30 to May 12. Nearly every grove has its pair of king- 

 birds and I have even fovmd a nest built on a brace in a fence cor- 

 ner, one-half mile from the nearest trees. They frequent wire 

 fences out in the fields a great deal, especially after the young 

 have flown. I have never seen the red crest on a living kingbird 

 except when displayed by a victorious male after defeating a rival. 



Arkansas Kingbird {Tyranmis verticalis). 



A rare, but in recent years, a fairly regular migrant. I first 

 identified it May 31, 1910, and since then have seen from one to 

 four individuals every year. My sister saw three on May 15, 1913, 

 and I saw one on August 20, 1913. Other first seen dates are: May 

 20, 1912, May 11, 1914, and June 9, 1915. In the summer of 1915 

 a pair stayed about our grove until late in June, but I do not 

 think they nested. 



Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus). 



A tolerably common summer resident along the Raccoon r'ver 

 and an occasional summer visitant at Wall Lake. I have noted it 

 at the latter place, June 25, 1911, and June 13, 1915. 



Phcebe (Sayornis phce'be) . 



A tolerably common migrant and a rare breeder in the vicinity 

 of Wall Lake. I found a nest under a bridge July 4, 1908. In the 

 years 1912 and 1913, the first arrivals in a specially favorable lo- 

 cality came on March 31. 



Olive-sided Flycatcher (NuttoIJornis iorealis). 



Mrs. George May reported seeing three in the spring of 1912. 



