FLYCATCHERS 



(456) Say6rnis phoebe 



{Lalham) (Thos. Say. Gr., a bird). 



PHCEBE; BRIDGE BIRD. Above 

 dull olivaceous-brown, much darker 

 and almost blackish on the head; 

 below soiled whitish. Immature 

 birds and adults in fall are quite 

 strongly tinted with yellow below. 

 L., 7.00; W., 3.2s; T., 3.30; B., .50. 

 Nest — Of mud, grasses and moss; 

 under bridges, overhanging banks or 

 ledges; four or iive dull-white eggs. 



Range — Eastern North America, 

 breeding from N. B., Keewatin and 

 Mackenzie south to the Gulf. 



(457) Sayornis savus (Bonap.) 

 SAY'S PHCEBE. Grayish-bro\vn 

 on the upper parts, throat and breast; 

 rest of under parts pale cinnamon. 

 Common in the West Accidental 

 east of the Mississippi. 



Crested Flycatchers nest in cavities of trees, usually in 

 deserted woodpecker holes. The cavity is partially filled 

 with weeds, grass, and trash of any kind, and the outer edge 

 is almost invariably decorated with a cast-off snake skin. As 

 this skin is usually very prominent, often protruding from 

 the hole, the presumption is that it is used for the purpose 

 of frightening away inquisitive birds or squirrels. The 

 eggs of these birds are rather unique in the markings, which 

 consist chiefly of lines of brown and gray lengthwise of the 

 eggs, on a light buff background. 



PHOEBES are probably known by sight or name to 

 every one; duU plumaged grayish birds easily distinguished 

 from any other flycatchers because their heads are so much 

 darker than their backs, and more easily because of their 

 habit of almost continually flirting their tails. They are 

 not at all shy; in fact, it is an exception to find a farm without 

 its pair of Phoebes nesting somewhere about the buildings, 

 either in sheds, outbuildings, or under barns. They are 

 quite noisy, but their voices are anything except musical; 



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