318 LAND BIRDS 



hand, making no effort to escape, not even closing its 

 eyes as do some birds to feign death. The birds nesting 

 in the tree were exceedingly timid, and disappeared as 

 soon as the tree was touched at the base. 



447. ARKANSAS KINGBIRD. — Tyrannus verticalis. 



Family : The Flycatchers. 



Length: 8.00-9.50. 



Adult Male : Concealed red crown patch ; head, neck, breast, and upper 



parts light ashy gray ; throat whitish ; belly leinon-yellow ; wings 



brown ; tail black, with inner web of outer feathers white. 

 Adult Female : Similar, but crown patch smaller. 

 Young : Like adults, but crown patch wanting, and wing-coverts edged 



with buff. 

 Geographical Distribution : Western North America, south in winter to 



Guatemala. 

 California Breeding Range : Transition and lower Sonoran zones. 

 Breeding Season : May 1 to June 25. 

 Nest : In trees, not far from the ground ; woven of twigs, weed stems, 



rootlets, hair, string, paper ; lined with wool or hair, and decorated 



with feathers. 

 Eggs: i ; creamy pinkish, marked with brown and purple irregularly 



over entire surface. Size 0.94 X 0.65. 



Look for the Arkansas Kingbird in the open country 

 about the river valleys, rather than in the forests or 

 mountains ; wherever water and willows are found 

 throughout the Northwest, you will be sure to find him. 

 A week or so before their mates come in the early spring, 

 you may see a company of these gay bachelors in the 

 tree tops singing with more energy than melody, a queer 

 conglomeration of the notes of blackbird, blue jay, and 



