PERCHING SONGLESS BIRDS. 



ORDER PASSERES: PERCHING BIRDS. 



SUB-ORDER CLAMATORES : SONGLESS PERCHING 

 BIRDS. 



FAMILY TYRANNID^E: TYKANT FLYCATCHERS. 

 Kingbird: Tyrannus Tyrannus. 



Bee Martin. 



PLATE 41. 

 Length : 8 inches. 

 Male and Female : Above black, orange-red streak on poll. Beneath 



grayish white, darkest on breast. Tail terminating in a white 



band. 



Bill and feet black. 



Note : A piercing call note, " Kyrie-K-y-rie ! " 

 Season : Common summer resident ; May to September. 

 Breeds : Through its United States range. 

 Nest : Bulky and deeply cupped, made of sticks and grass, lined with 



matted fibres, usually in a conspicuous position on a horizontal 



branch in orchards or thin woods. 

 Eggs : Nearly an inch long and almost round, cream or bluish white, 



boldly scratched and spotted with brown and lilac. Very hand- 

 some and richly coloured. 

 Range : Eastern North America, from the British Provinces south to 



Central and South America. Rare west of the Rocky Mountains. 



That the Kingbird the second largest of our Flycatchers 

 is a tyrant, as his Latin name indicates, no one will doubt 

 who has watched his tactics for a single day. He is born a 

 fighter ; he fights for his mate, he fights to protect his nest, 

 and when he cannot find an opponent he emulates Don 

 Quixote. His greatest tyranny is over the ravenous insects 

 that he holds so well in check ; and the clumsy Crows and 

 Hawks he drives at will. 



182 



