The Western Flycatcher 
The Western Flycatcher inhabits the deeper woods of lower and 
moderate levels, chiefly west of the Sierras, though it has its acknowledged 
centers of abundance in the San Diegan district, and in the humid coast 
province up to and including the San Francisco Bay region. It is rather 
partial, also, to watercourses, and especially such as flow through shady 
retreats or past mossy grottoes. Abundant water and shade lure it to 
the heart of the Sierras, 
but only along the 
valleys of the major 
streams at altitudes of 
5000 or 6000 feet. On 
the other hand, it is 
interesting to note an 
increasing fondness on 
the bird’s part for 
civilized shade. Given 
shade, the little fellow 
will invade the most 
pretentious estates, or 
push his way into the 
confines of cities. The 
crannies of porches offer 
him welcome shelter, 
and he is nowise intol¬ 
erant of humans, if only 
they will leave him to 
his own devices. 
Difficilis is typically 
the gleaner of the middle 
forest. Though moving 
about in the shade, he 
selects a perch devoid of 
foliage, where he can 
have a local fair-way. 
Quiet, for the most part, 
when settled, he never¬ 
theless shifts position 
every twenty seconds or 
so—goes the rounds in 
search of the lesser 
hymenoptera and the 
A HUMBLE HAUNT OF THE WESTERN FLYCATCHER 
881 
