276 Birds of Colorado 
Description.—Closely resembling Z. tratili, but slightly richer in colour, 
and the wing-bands a cleaner white. At once distimguishable, however, 
by its distinctly emarginate tail, and by its smaller size. The amount 
of yellow on the under-surface varies considerably, but the throat is 
always pure white; lower mandible pale dusky. Length 4-90; wing 
2-55; tail 2-20; culmen -40; tarsus -55. 
Distribution.—Breeding in eastern North America from the eastern 
base of the Rocky Mountains in Athabasca and western Texas to Prince 
Edward Island and North Carolina; southward in winter through 
eastern Mexico and Central America to northern Peru. 
In Colorado the Least Flycatcher has only been found, as a regular, 
though rather rare spring migrant, on the eastern plains and foothills 
of the State. It has not hitherto been found nesting, though it probably 
does so; nor has it been met with in or west of the Rocky Mountains. 
It has been noticed in the following localities only: Loveland, May 
12th (Cooke); Denver, May 12th to 17th (Henshaw); El Paso co., 
May 13th to June 6th, Elbert co., May 21st, Lincoln co., May 22nd 
to 27th, and Fremont co., May llth (Aiken); Baca co., May 13th 
(Warren). 
Habits.—This little Flycatcher is a common bird in 
the east, where it is often known as the “ Chebec,” from 
its call ; it prefers open, cultivated country, and can often 
be seen in orchards and hedgerows ; it is an exceedingly 
restless creature, constantly flitting about and darting 
after insects. 
Hammond’s Flycatcher. Empidonax hammond. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 468—Colorado Records—Ridgway 73, p. 184; 
Trippe 74, p. 258; Henshaw 75, p. 362; Minot 80, p. 231; Allen & 
Brewster 83, p. 195; Drew 85, p. 17; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 
89, p. 146; Bendire 92, p. 315; McGregor 97, p. 38; Cooke 97, pp. 89, 
209; Gilman 07, p. 155; Henderson 09, p. 233. 
Description.—Closely resembling EZ. minimus, with the tail distinctly 
emarginate, but the bill narrower and the wing, tail and middle toe 
longer. Below the ashy shading on the breast is darker and more 
widely spread, extending over the throat, which is not distinctly white ; 
tenth (outer) primary equal to the fifth. As in EZ. minimus, there are 
two distinct colour phases, some individuals being strongly washed 
with pale yellow below, others being without any trace of yellow; 
the bulk of specimens are intermediate, and the differentiation does 
not seem to depend on age, sex or season. Length 5-10; wing 2-85; 
tail 2-40; culmen -40; tarsus -60. 
