204 Jiiiiiis OK NoKTH Carolina 



The name "Kingbird" is given to this fiycatelier on aecount of its habit of attaek- 

 ing larger birds, such as hawks, crows, and vultures, and driving them from the 

 neighborhood of its nest. It accomplishes this feat bj' its superior powers of flight, 

 which enable it to make matters so uncomfortable for the larger l)ird that a rapid 

 retreat becomes necessary to insure safety from discomfiture. It will occasionally 

 even alight on the back of a Turkey ^'ulture in its eagerness to drive the tres- 

 passer away. 



Genus Myiarchus Cab.) 



188. Myiarchus crinitus (Limi.). Chested Flycatcher. 



Description. — Olivacpoiis jilxivc, witli l)riKht chestnut on wings anti tail, breast asliy gray, 

 belly clear yellow. Head .somewhat pulTv, but not really crested. Measurements of 30 

 Raleigh specimens: L., 7.75-9.00; W., 3.40-4.2.-); T.. 3.00-3.7.5. 



Range in United States. — ^Ea.stern United States in summer, oiifl of the Clreat Plains. 



Range in North Carolina. — Whole State in summer, breeding everywhere. 



Fig. I.'jI). Ckesteu Flyc.stchf.r. 



The Crested ; Flycatcher is a common simuner visitor throughout the State, 

 arriving in spring a little earlier than the Kingbird, namely, about the middle of 

 April over the greater portion of the State and a little later in the iiunmtaiu region. 

 In fall it has been observed as late as Seijtenibcr. 



UnUke the other members of its family, this species makes its nest in holes in 

 trees, often in the cavities of old apple trees. The nesting ]ieriod is in late May 

 and in June, and the nest is comijosed of fine gra.ss, lined with feathers or hair. 

 Many individual pairs have a habit of using a shed snakeskin in the composition of 

 the nest. The eggs are usually five in number, occasionally four or six, and are 

 quite different in color and markings from tlio.se of any other of our birds, being 

 huffy brown in ground-color, streaked lengthu-ise with well defined lines and mark- 

 ings of pur]ile and dark brown. 



Unlike; the Kingbird, whicli fre(|ucuts open rountry, tlu' Crested Flycatcher is 

 chiefly a woodland bird, although it by no nutans despises orchards and groves as 

 breeding localities. 



