Least Flycatcher 



White 



PERCHING BIRDS 



466a. ALDER FLYCATCHER. 



Empidonax trailli alnorum. 



Range. United States, east of the Mississippi 

 and north to New Brunswick. 



The only difference between this and the pre- 

 ceding variety is in the more greenish upper 

 parts. They are quite abundant in the breed- 

 ing season from New England and northern 

 New York northward, frequenting, to a great 

 extent, alder thickets bordering streams. Their 

 nests and eggs do not differ appreciably from 

 those of the western variety of Traill Fly- 

 catcher. 



467- LEAST FLYCATCHER. 

 Empidonax minimus. 



Range. North America, east of the Rockies 



and north to the interior of Canada, wintering 



south of the United States. 



These little birds (5.5 inches 

 long) are common about houses 



and orchards on the outskirts of cities, and on the edges of for- 

 ests or open woods. They are very frequently known by the 

 name of Chebec from their continually uttered note. In nearly 

 all instances, the nests are placed in upright forks at elevations 

 varying from four to twenty-four feet from the ground. The 



nests are made chiefly of plant fibres, fine grasses, string, cobwebs, etc., and 



the three to five eggs are pale creamy white; size .65 x .50. 



468. HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER. Empidonax hammondi. 



Range. North America, west of the Rockies and from British Columbia south- 

 ward, wintering south of the United States. 



This western representative of the Least 

 Flycatcher is less abundant and more shy, 

 but has the same nesting habits as the east- 

 ern birds, placing its nests either in upright 

 crotches or, more rarely, upon horizontal 

 branches at a low elevation. The eggs can- 

 not be distinguished from those of the last 

 species. 



469. WRIGHT'S FLYCATCHER. Empidona.r wrighti. 



Range/ Western United States, breeding from the Mex- 

 ican border to Oregon and wintering south of the United 

 States. 



A very similar bird to the last but whiter 

 ^"~ below. It is a much more abundant species 



/ than the last and is found breeding In open 



woods and thickets on all the ranges. The 

 nests are built like those of the Least Fly- 

 catcher and nearly always are found in 

 the crotch of trees or bushes at a low ele- 

 ation; their nests, like those of the two 

 preceding species, bear a strong resemblance to those of 

 the Yellow Warblers which are found in the same locali- 

 ties and locations. The eggs are pale creamy white, four 

 in number and measure .68 x .52, 



White 



White 



469 4694 



295 



