FLYCATCHERS 189 



In winter it has been seen at Piedmont, Anniston, Sand 

 Mountain (near Rosalie), Greenbrier Cove (Marshall Coun- 

 ty) , Carlton, Uniontown, Auburn, and Ashf ord. On the coast 

 the bird is fairly common, having been poted at Orange Beach 

 in January and at Bayou Labatre in February. 



Migrants from the North reach the State in October and re- 

 main until the last of March. First arrivals were noted at 

 Brewton, October 8 (1908) ; Greensboro, October 9 (1891) ; 

 and Autaugaville, October 11 (1915) . The last in spring were 

 seen at Dothan, March 13 ; Mobile, March 18 ; Dean, March 20 ; 

 and Barachias, March 21. 



General habits. — During the nesting season, the phoebe is 

 rather closely restricted to localities affording nesting sites, 

 which in Alabama are found chiefly in rough, hilly country 

 where there are cliffs or steep banks. In winter, however, it 

 ranges more widely and may be found in old cornfields or 

 about the borders of woodland, but usually in open country. 



The nest is placed under a bridge or culvert, on the face of 

 a cliff, on the sill or under the eaves of a house or outbuilding, 

 or in a niche in a clay bank; it is usually protected from the 

 weather by an overhang of rock or in some other way, and 

 being rather firmly fastened to the support, often persists 

 for more than one season. If attached to the face of a cliff 

 or a building, it is composed largely of mud, strengthened with 

 rootlets and dry grass and is semicircular in shape ; if on top 

 of a sill or post it is circular and often composed largely of 

 moss ; in either case the outside is covered with moss and the 

 inside lined with silky fibers and horse hair. 



Phoebe is a typical flycatcher, spending much time on some 

 low perch, such as a weed stalk, fence post, or dead limb of a 

 tree, scanning the surroundings keenly, and frequently mak- 

 ing a sally for some passing insect. Immediately on alighting 

 and frequently as he sits on his perch, the bird drops its tail 

 with a characteristic flirt. Its notes also serve to distinguish 

 it, the alarm note being a metallic tschip and the ordinary song 

 an abrupt, vigorous, phe-be with a peculiar roll. 



In the South, the phoebe is said to alight on the backs of 

 cattle and to catch insects which live on the animals — a habit 

 which has given it the local name of tick-bird. 



