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BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
Order PASSERES. Perchinr Birds. 
Suborder CLAMATORES. Sonoless Perching Birds. 
Family TYRANNID.®. Tyrant Flycatchers. 
THE flycatchers. 
Of the several species ot this highly beneficial family which occur in Pennsylva- 
nia as summer residents or passing visitants but two, viz : the Kingbird and com- 
mon Pewee, are generally known to those wdio are not interested in ornithological 
pursuits. Both of these birds are common breeders about the habitations of man, 
and unlike most others of their kin are not shy or difficult to approach. Although 
at times some of the Flycatchers descend to the earth for food, it is safe to sa^" 
that these birds, collectively considered, are seldom observed on the ground feed- 
ing. Nine representatives of this family occur in Pennsylvania, and all but two— 
Traill’s and the Olive-sided Flycatchers — breed here regularly, and probably both 
birds last named breed sparingly and irregularly, within our limits. I have been 
informed that traillii has been seen here in summer, and boi'ealis — a very rare 
visitor — Mr. August Kock is quite positive breetls occasionally in the mountain- 
ous regions of Lycoming county. Flycatchers, as the name would indicate, feed 
largely on winged insects, and some also subsist to a small extent, in the fall and 
winter especially, on small fruit of different kinds. 
“The structure of the bill is admirably adapted for the capture of winged insects; 
the broad and deeply fissured mandibles form a capacious mouth, while the long- 
bristles are of service in entangling the creatures in a trap and restraining their 
struggles to escape. The shape of the wings and tail confers the power of rapid and 
varied aerial evolutions necessary for the successful pursuit of active flying insects. 
A little practice in field ornithology will enable one to recognize the Flycatchers from 
their habit of perching in wait for their prey upon some prominent outpost, in a 
peculiar attitude, with the wings and tail drooped and vibrating in readiness for in- 
stant action, and of dashing into the air, seizing the passing insect with a quick 
movement and a click of the bill, and then returning to their stand. Although 
certain Oscines have somewhat the same habit, these pursue insects from place to 
place, instead of perching in wait at a particular spot, and their forays are not made 
with such admirable elan. Dependent entirely upon insect food, the Flycatchers 
are necessarily migratory in our latitude. They appear with great regularity in 
spring and depart on the approach of cold weather in the fall. * * The voice, 
susceptible of little modulation, is usually harsh and strident, though some species 
have no unmusical whistle or twitter.” — Cone's Key. 
Bill broad at base, culmen flattened or rounded ; the maxilla tapers to a sharp 
point, curved downward at the end (being hooked). The small and roundish nos- 
trils are partly covered wiih bristles ; gape wide with long stiff bristles ; legs rather 
short ; feet small and weak, with rather lengthened, curved and sharp-i^ointed 
claws ; tail long, twelve feathers ; tarsi naked ; sexes alike ; medium sized or very 
small ; the larger species liave blackish bills, and smaller kinds usually have yellow- 
ish colored lower mandibles ; eyes brown, legs and feet blackish. 
Genus, Tyr annus : Head (adults) with concealed patch of orange-red ; wings long 
and pointed ; second and third quills longest ; first and fourth about equal but shorter 
than second and third; in adults the first two or three quills are rather abruptly nar- 
rowed near the tips ; tarsus little longer than hind toe with claw ; the broad and 
nearly even tail is shorter than the wings ; plumage dark above, white below, tail 
broadly tipped with white. 
Germs, Myiarchus : Head witli well developed crest; wings long, a little rounded, 
about equal to long, broad and even tail ; first primary shorter than sixtli and 
