Kingbird 1 1 1 



saw was in May, 1904, in an orchard adjoining the 

 Schenectady turnpike, about five miles from Albany. There 

 was evidently a nest thereabouts, but I could not find it. 



Kingbird. — Tyrannus iyrannus. 8.51 



Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Grayish upper parts, becoming blackish on 

 head and upper tail-coverts; orange-red crest, partially 

 concealed; tail black, tipped with white; under parts 

 white to ashy; given to spreading its tail and partially 

 opening its wings while perched; fond of hovering in air 

 with wings in rapid motion. 



I never understood why the Kingbird should be called a 

 tyrant for I have always found him merely an ardent, home- 

 loving bird, never intruding on the rights of other feathered 

 folk, unless they encroached upon his domain. If they did, 

 there was a fight, and Kingbird showed only an admirable 

 spunk. He is a bird of the Summer-time and is in his glory 

 in some old, dry orchard where he engages in his profession 

 of fly-catching the livelong day. Sometimes the nest is placed 

 on the branch of a sycamore tree over a stream or pond, but 

 is more often built in an orchard tree. Four or five white 

 eggs, boldly splashed with dark brown, are the nest complement. 



