FLYCATCHERS 



(461) Myiochanes virens 



(Linn.) 



WOOD PEWEE. Above oliva- 

 ceous-brown; below dingy white, 

 tinged with yellowish-gray on the 

 breast and sides. Lower mandible 

 yellowish. Wing coverts and second- 

 aries narrowly tipped and edged 

 with whitish. L., 6.25; W., 3.40; 

 T., 2. go; Tar., .50; B., .55. Nesi — 

 A rather shallow but handsome 

 structure of plant fibres and mosses, 

 with the outside decorated with 

 lichens so that it appears to be but a 

 knob or tuft of moss on the limb 

 upon which it is saddled; three or 

 four creamy-white eggs with a wreath 

 of reddish-brown spots around the 

 large end, .80 x .55. 



Range — Breeds from N. B. and 

 Man. south to the Gulf; with us 

 from May to Sept. 



They frequent chiefly coniferous forests and are very 

 partial to swampy ground. Their nests are located in the 

 tops of tall, almost inaccessible evergreens, preferably those 

 with dead tops festooned with Usnea moss. The nests are 

 quite frail; just a few slender twigs with a lining of moss, 

 upon which the three handsome eggs are laid. They are 

 quite bold and fearless and often actually strike a person 

 endeavoring to reach their nests. They are quite noisy, 

 and if a pair is located within a mile they can usually be 

 located by their peculiar, far-reaching calls, a three-syllabled, 

 whistled " whip-pee- wee, " the first note brought out sharp 

 and quick, and the two latter rather long and drawn out. 



WOOD PEWEES are common in dry woods everywhere. 

 They are also, but less often, found in orchards and along 

 country roadsides. On exceedingly hot, dry summer days, 

 when most other birds are silent, Pewees are the happiest 

 and sing the most. Their song is rather plaintive and sad, 

 but still I think more musical than those of any other fly- 

 catchers. It consists of two parts, delivered at intervals 



265 



