Nests in Buildings, Bridges, -Walls, Etc. 



These birds may be easily identified by tlie dusky colour, thin, 

 short, spinous tails, and by their flight, which consists of alter- 

 nate strokes of the wings. (After careful observation 1 am prac- 

 tically sure that such is the case, though I believe this is a dis- 

 puted point.) The twigs that form the nest are broken off while 

 the bird is in flight. 



The breeding season begins toward the end of May in the 

 neighbourhood of New York. Possibly two sets of eggs are laid, 

 as 1 have found a nest containing young birds not more than a 

 day or two old on July 26th. 



456. Phoebe: Sayornis phoebe (Lath.) 



Adult — Upper parts grayish olive brown; top of head darker; 

 under parts grayish white, slightly tinged with yellow. 



Immature birds have the yellow more pronounced. 

 Length — 6.99. 



Breeding Range — The Eastern States, from South Carolina north- 

 ward. 



The nest is built chiefly of moss and sometimes lichen, 

 cemented together with mud and lined with hair. It is placed 

 beneath the eaves of a house, on beams of a house or wooden 

 bridge, against the perpendicular side of a stone bridge or cul- 

 vert, against the face of a cliff, beneath projecting stones, or in 

 almost any available place. The eggs are generally pure white, 

 but it is not at all uncommon to find among a set one or two 

 that have a few light reddish or dark brownish spots; the usual 

 number is 4 or 5. Size — .78 x .57. 



The Phoebe is perhaps one of the most common as well as 

 one of the tamest of our birds. Year after year they will build 

 or rebuild their nests in the same place, and that place is fre- 

 quently over a door that is in constant use, the birds thus evinc- 

 ing but little fear of man. 



The nesting place in former times was probably the face of a 

 cliff, and even now it is not uncommon to tlnd nests thus situ- 

 ated, though in the vicinity of buildings. During the past season 

 1 found no less than three nests on large stones or cliffs, and two 

 of them were within a hundred yards or so of both a building 

 and a bridge. Two successive broods are reared in different 



8S 



