The Birds of El Paso County, Colorado 527 



Sayomis sayus. Say's Phoebe. 



Summer resident; common. Arrives about April first, 

 and departs the last week in September. The earliest date of 

 arrival being March IS, 1914, and the latest date at which it 

 has been noted being September 28, 1913. 



Say's Phoebe is a common summer resident in the County, 

 ranging quite high at times, having been seen at Lake Moraine, 

 September 2, 1905, and June 17, 1900, found breeding at Di- 

 vide station. Teller County, 9,200 feet. Its breeding habits 

 are quite similar to those of the Eastern Phoebe, for it likes 

 to nest on the sills and joists of buildings about ranches and 

 farms, under bridges and similar locations, in cavities in 

 stream banks, under rock ledges, and even down in wells in 

 the stone curbing. 



June 21, 1905, three young, able to fly, were seen with 

 their parents about a house, and the old birds were feeding 

 them. That their appetites were good was shown by their 

 swallowing Pyrameis butterflies whole. They are indefati- 

 gable insect catchers, and continually in pursuit of prey, and 

 the number of insects annually consumed by one must be 

 enormous. It has the habit of perching on trees, posts, fences, 

 or tall weeds, and continually uttering its calls, something like 

 that of the Eastern Phoebe. 



Nuttallomb borealis. Olive-sided Flycatcher. 



Summer resident in the mountains ; not uncommon. Ar- 

 rives May 20-25. 



A large, rather heavily built flycatcher, with large bill, 

 easily recognized in its summer home by its habit of perching 

 on the topmost branches of dead trees, whence it makes its 

 flights in pursuit of insect prey. It breeds exclusively in the 

 mountains, going nearly to timberline. July 4, 1907, Aiken 

 found five or six pairs breeding on the hillside below St. 

 Peter's Dome station. It was common in Crystal Park, August 



