49 



Flicker, Colaptes auratus. — The flicker, also known as yellow hammer, 

 high-hole or golden-shafted woodpecker, is a rather common summer resident. It 

 often feeds on the ground and is especially fond of ants. On the whole it is a useful 

 bird and, fortunately, is the most wary of the woodpeckers. 



Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc. 



This group is represented in Quebec by the Whippoorwili, Anstrostomus 

 vociferus, a rather rare summer resident; the Nighthawk, Chordelies virginianus, 

 a common resident; the Chimney Swift, Cbaetuia pelagica, and the Humming- 

 bird, Trochilus colubris. The first three are exclusively insect feeders and highly 

 useful. The hummingbird feeds on the nectar of flowers and small insects. 



Perching Birds 



Flycatchers, Tyrannidae. — The flycatchers are dull-colored birds with char- 

 acteristic though unmusical notes. From some convenient perch they watch for 

 insects and swoop into the air, catching them on the wing, and return to their 

 perch. They also feed on wild fruit, but are largely insectiverous, beetles, grass- 

 hoppers and crickets being the insects usually taken. They destroy a large number 

 of injurious insects, but also feed on the useful parasitic wasps. The latter, how- 

 ever, only forms a small part of their food. The following species are found in 

 this Province : — 



Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus. , 



Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus. 

 Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe. 

 Olive-Sided Flycatcher, Nuttallornis boreahs. 

 Wood Pewee, Myochanes virens. 

 Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher, Epidonax flaviventris. 

 Alder Flycatcher, Empidonax traillii alnorum. 

 Least Flycatcher, Epidonax minimus. 



Larks 



The horned larks are the only representatives of this family in North America. 

 They frequent fields and never hve in forests. Their f(>od consists of weed seeds, 

 insects and a small amount of grain. The Horned Lark, Otocoris alpestris, breeds 

 in the north, coming south in the winter. The common summer resident in Quebec 

 is the Prairie Horned Lark, Otocoris alpestris praticola. 



P. P. Eng.— 4 



