FLYCATCHERS 



(444) Tyrannus tyrannus 



{Linn.) (Lat.. a tyrant). 



KINGBIRD; "BEE-MARTIN." 

 An abundant species, especially in 

 settled regions. Plumage as shown. 

 Sexes alike, each having the orange- 

 red, partially concealed crown-patch. 

 Immature birds lack this coronal 

 mark. L., 8.25; E,x., 14.50; W., 

 4.50; T., 3.50, nearly square-ended; 

 B., .80. Nest — Quite large and 

 fairly compactly made of twigs, 

 rootlets, weeds, plant fibres, and 

 usually bits of string, paper and 

 other trash; placed in crotches of 

 trees, often in orchards, but some- 

 times in bushes. 



Range — Breeds throughout the 

 U. S. and southern Canada. Winters 

 south of the U. S. Here May ist to 

 Sept. ist. 



and penetrating; a "tsee, tsee" not differing greatly from 

 the well-known cry of the eastern Kingbird. 



KINGBIRDS are well and favorably known everywhere. 

 In fact one cannot help noticing them, for they are in the 

 centre of all bird quarrels in the neighborhood. Let a jay, 

 a crow, or a hawk put in an appearance, and these valiant 

 warriors at once go to meet him, and the larger bird imme- 

 diately beats a retreat under the fierce poundings of his tor- 

 mentors; soon our warrior returns to his high lookout perch, 

 pride and conceit showing in every beat of the rapidly 

 whirring wings and in every note of his trills of \dctory. 



Almost every orchard supports one or two pairs of King- 

 birds, and they are worthy of their keep, for they daily 

 destroy astonishing quantities of insects, mostly injurious 

 ones. Their nests are composed of weeds, grasses, rootlets, 

 string, paper, rags, feathers, m fact almost any kind of trash 

 that can be picked up in the neighborhood. When in 

 orchards, the nests are located in upright forks near the tops 

 of the trees. They may also often be found in trees by 



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