158 



Nesting. A well made but slight structure of fine fibres and rootlets covered with 

 lichens and saddled on a branch, 20 to 40 feet from the ground. 



Distribution. It is distributed over nearly all eastern North America west to the 

 prairies, breeding in Canada wherever found. 



The long-drawn plaintive "Pee-e-we" of this bird is a characteristic 

 sound of the open woodlands in the spring, and after other birds have 

 relapsed into midsummer silence its mournful note may still occasionally 

 be heard. 



Economic Status. The food of the Wood Pewee is similar to that of 

 the other Flycatchers, but modified, of course, by its woodland habitat. 

 As it is not retiring and frequents open groves and orchards freely, it is 

 of direct benefit to the agriculturist. 



Genus — Empidonax. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. 



463. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, fr. — le moucherolle a ventre jatjne. Em- 

 pidonax flaviventris. L, 5-63. Similar to the Wood Pewee and the Phoebe in colour, 

 but smaller than either and with the browns and olives of those species replaced by dis- 

 tinct olive-green, and the whites by dull sulphur-yellow. 



Distinctions. The distinctly yellow colour of the whole bird makes this the most 

 easily recognized of the small Flycatchers. 



Field Marks. The yellow colour, especially on the throat, is the best sight mark. 

 The notes "Te-pee-a" are distinctive — three syllables, with accent on the middle one. Its 

 "Pe-wick" is something like the name call of the Phoebe, but the first syllable is not 

 accented. 



Nesting. On the ground; nest built of moss and lined with grasses. 



Distribution. From the Great Plains east and north to the edges of cultivation. 

 Breeds in Canada along the northern boundary of its range, not in the lower Great Lakes 

 region. 



Another woodland Flycatcher; but one that is less confined to large 

 timber. Thickets bordering heavier woods seem to be its favourite locality. 



Economic Status. Food habits very similar to those of the other 

 small Flycatchers. Its normal station on the edges of woods bordering 

 cultivated land makes it of value to the agriculturist. 



465. Acadian Flycatcher, little green-crested flycatcher, fr. — le motjche- 

 rolle d'acadie. Empidonax virescens. L, 5-63. A small Flycatcher of about the 

 same size as the Yellow-bellied, Traill's, and Least Flycatchers; smaller than the Wood 

 Pewee; and much smaller than the Phoebe. In colour, like the Phoebe but distinctly 

 olive-green above and more yellowish below. Wing-bars rather prominent. 



Distinctions. This species agrees so closely in size and coloration with Traill's and 

 the Least Flycatchers as to make identification most difficult. It is not as yellow in 

 colour as the Yellow-bellied, there being no pure yellow on it anywhere, but it is the yellow- 

 est and greenest of the other small Flycatchers. It is very rare in Canada and new records 

 should be accepted only on the authority of experts. 



Distribution. Eastern North America north to the borders of Canada along the 

 western end of lake Erie. 



466. Traill's Flycatcher, fr. — le moucherolle des aulnes. Empidonax traiM. 

 L, 6-09. A small Flycatcher, slightly larger than the Yellow-bellied or the Least and 

 of almost identical coloration with the latter and very similar to the Acadian. 



Distinctions. The back is browner than in the Acadian and without its decided 

 suggestion of green. From the Least, size is sometimes the only means of differentiation. 



Field Marks. Colour or size details are of little use in the field determination of 

 this or the next species. Habitat and call-notes are, however, reliable. Traill's Fly- 

 catcher is a bird of the alder, willow, or raspberry thickets, and overgrown marsh edges: 

 the Least Flycatcher is a woodland bird; and though either may be occasionally found 



