CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 413 



The Olive-sided Flycatcher is a rare summer resident in the 

 southern portions of New England, but is quite common in Maine 

 and New Brunswick, and ranges north to about the 50th parallel. 

 It winters south to the tropics. 



CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



Myiarchus crinitus. 



Char. Upper parts olive, inclined to brown on the head ; belly bright 

 yellow; throat and breast ashy gray; wings and tail dusky, marked with 

 rufous. Head crested. Length 8J^ to 9 inches. 



Nest. In a cavity of a tree ; of twigs, grass-roots, feathers, and usually 

 a cast-off snake-skin. 



Eggs. 4-6 ; light buffy brown, marked with lines of brown and purple ; 

 0.85 X 0.65. 



This species, nearly unknown in New England, arrives in 

 Pennsylvania early in May, and builds his nest in the deserted 

 holes of the Woodpecker or Bluebird. He also frequents the 

 orchard, and is equally fond of bees with the Kingbird. He 

 has no other note than a harsh squeak, which sounds like ''pdip, 

 'pdip, payup, paywip, with a strong accent on the first syl- 

 lable. He preys actively on insects, which he collects from 

 his stand, and, in short, has most of the manners and physi- 

 ognomy of the whole section or family to which he belongs. 

 The note of the male appears often delivered in anger and 

 impatience, and he defends- his retreat from the access of all 

 other birds with the tyrannic insolence characteristic of the 

 Kingbird. 



Towards the end of summer these birds feed on berries of 

 various kinds, being particularly partial to pokeberries and 

 whortleberries, which for a time seem to constitute the prin- 

 cipal food of the young. They remain in Pennsylvania till about 

 the middle of September, when they retire to tropical America. 

 In July, 1 83 1, 1 observed a pair in an orchard at Acton, in this 

 State (Massachusetts) . They had reared a brood in the vicinity, 

 and still appeared very stationary on the premises ; their harsh 



