151 



Economic Status. The food of the Wood Pewee is quite 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. 



463. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, fb. — lb motjcherolle a ventre jaune. Em- 

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

 but smaUer than either and with the browns and oKves of those species replaced by di.s- 

 tinct oUve-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 smaU 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 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. Empidonax vires- 

 cens. L, 5-63. A small Flycatcher of about the same size as the Yellow-bellied, Traill's, 

 and LeastFlycatchers; smaller than the Wood Pewee; and much smaller than the Phoebe. 

 In colour, Mke 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 so 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, fb. — le moucherolle des aulnes. Empidonax trailli. 

 L, 6-09. A small Flycatcher, sUghtly larger than the YeUow-beUied or the Least and 

 of almost identical coloration to the latter and 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, wiUow, or raspberry thickets, and overgrown marsh edges; 

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

 in other habitats the surroundings are usually a good guide to identification. The call 

 notes, however, make recognition easy. Trafll's are ee-zee-e-up vsdth stress on the second 

 syllable and the Least utters quickly an explosive che-bec that is sometimes repeated 

 several times. 



Nesting. In a crotch of small growth near the ground; in nest of coarse grasses, plant- 

 down, and fibres lined with grasses. 



Distribution. Traill's Flycatcher as a species inhabits nearly all of North America. 

 The eastern subspecies, the Alder Flycatcher, is found from the east coast of Canada 

 west across the mountains. 



SUBSPECIES. Two subspecies of Traill's Flycatcher occur in Canada. The 

 eastern form, the Alder Flycatcher E. t. alnorum, is the only one that occurs within the 

 area under consideration. The Western Alder Flycatcher E. t. trailli is a more southern 

 and western form. 



