PERCHING BIRDS 



457. SAY'S PH<EBE. Sayornis sayus. 



Range. Western United States, breeding 

 from southern United States, north to the Arc- 

 tic regions, and from Kansas and Wisconsin 

 westward. Winters in Mexico. 



This bird is slightly larger than the last 

 (7.5 inches long), and is rusty brown color on 

 the belly and lower breast. Like the eastern 

 Phoebes they are one of the earliest birds to re- 

 turn in the spring and are abundant in the 

 greater parts of their range. 

 Like the latter, they often 

 raise two broods a season, 

 one in April and another in 

 V , July. Their nests are gener- 



ally placed on narrow shelves 

 White and crevices of ledges, but 



they also nest as commonly about houses and 

 farms as does the eastern bird. The nests are 

 made of weeds, mosses, fibres and wool, and 

 are quite flat. They lay four or five white eggs. 

 Size .78 x .58. 



458. BLACK PHCEBE. Sayornis nigricans. 



Range. Mexico and north in summer into 

 the bordering States. 



This species is of the size of the last but 

 is blackish (darkest on the head and breast), 



with a white belly and under 



tail coverts, the latter streak- 

 ed with dusky. Their habits 



and nesting habits are the 



same as those of the eastern 



Phoebe, they building their 



nests of mud, moss, weeds 



and feathers on ledges or 

 about buildings, and generally close to or in the vicinity of water. They breed 

 during April or May, laying four or five white eggs which cannot be distinguish- 

 ed from those of the common Phoebe. Size .75 x .55. 



White 



4J8a. WESTERN BLACK PHCEBE. Sayornis nigricans semiatra. 



Range. Pacific Coast of Mexico and the United States, breeding north to 

 Oregon. 



This variety differs from the last in having the under tail coverts pure white. 

 Its nesting habits are precisely the same and the eggs indistinguishable. 



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