Desceiptive List 207 



The hirds breed in late May or June, the compact nest, which is externally cov- 

 ered with gray lichens, being saddled on the hnib of some pine, oak, or other tree, 

 usually at a considerable distance from the groiuid. The eggs are three in number, 

 ■of a cream\'-white ground-color, marked chiefly about the larger end with spots of 

 reddish brown, burnt umber, and lilac, forming a wreath. Size, .75 x .55. 



There are proljably few people of our State who have not noticed this bird sit- 

 ting upright on some stake or dead limb, turning its head from side to side on the 

 lookout for any straj' insect that maj^ come flying past. A moment later you may 

 see it dart from its perch and after a few ciuick turns, the sharp snap of the bill 

 can be heard, indicating that the desired insect has been captured. Complacently 

 the captor returns to its perch and with a satisfied pee-dee-wee resumes its watch. 

 Pearson observed a Wood Pewee at Guilford College capture thirty-six insects in 

 a period of five minutes. 



Genus Empidonax (Cab.) 



This group contains a numl.ier of small flycatchers (none being as large as the 

 Wood Pewee) which are much alike in general appearance. Their movements, 

 notes, and breeding habits are, however, by no means alike: hence in spring, when 

 birds are noisy, it is easier to distinguish them than at other times. Of our four 

 species, two have been taken only in the mountain region, and liut one of the others 

 is at all common. This is the Acadian or Green-crested Flycatcher, which is found 

 regularly in summer in all parts of the State. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Underparts distinctly yellow. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. 



1. Underparts not distinctly yellow. See 2. 



2. Longest primary nearly an inch longer than secondaries. Plumage olive-gi'een. Acadian 



Flycatcher. 



2. Longest primary not more than '3 inch longer than secondaries, plumage not olive-green. 



See .3. 



3. Longest primary about % inch longer than secondaries. Bill pale below. Alder Flycatcher. 

 3. Longest primary about 34 inch longer than secondaries. Bill dark below. Least Fly- 

 catcher. ^ 



192. Empidonax flaviventris (Baird.) Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. 



Description: Adn. — l'|)i)erparts ratlier dark ohve-green; wings and tail fuscous; greater and 

 lesser wing-coverts tipped with wliite or yellowish white; iniderparts sulphm'-yellow, the belly 

 pure, the throat, breast, and sides more or less washed with olive-green; upper mandible black, 

 lower manchble whitish or flesh-color; second to fourth primaries of equal length, the first 

 shorter than the fifth. Im. — Yellow of the underparts brighter, wing-bars more yellow, and 

 sometimes tinged with pale ochrareous-buff. L., .5.63; W., 2.6.5; T., 2.16; B. from N., .33. 



Remarks. — This is the most yellow of our small flycatchers. In any plumage the entire 

 underparts, including the throat, are sulphiu'-yellow or dusky yellowish. In the other eastern 

 species of this genus the throat is white. (Chap., Birds of E. .V. A.) 



Range in United Stales. — In siunmcr the northern tier of States and the higher mountains, 

 east of the jMississippi, passing tlirough the whole East during the migrations to reach these 

 breeding grounds, but not often seen. 



Range in North Carolina. — A lare transient in tlie mountains. 



The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher breeds from the mountains of Pennsylvania north- 

 ward. The nest, unlike those of our other flycatchers, is not placed in a tree or 

 bush, but is imbedded in a bank, or stump, or among the roots of an upturned tree. 



