PERCHING BIRDS 
457. Say’s Ph(Ebe. Sayornis sayus. 
Range. — Western United States, breeding 
from southern United States, north to the Arc- 
tic regions, and from Kansas and Wisconsin 
westward. Winters in Mexico. 
This bird is slightly larger than the last 
(7.5 inches long), and is rusty brown color on 
the belly and lower breast. Like the eastern 
Phoebes they are one of the earliest birds to re- 
turn in the spring and are abundant in the 
greater parts of their range. 
Like the latter, they often 
raise two broods a season, 
one in April and another in 
July. Their nests are gener- 
ally placed on narrow shelves 
White and crevices of ledges, but 
they also nest as commonly about houses and 
farms as does the eastern bird. The nests are 
made of weeds, mosses, fibres and wool, and 
are quite flat. They lay four or five white eggs. 
Size .78 x .58. 
458. Black Phiebe. Sayornis nigricans. 
Range. — Mexico and north in summer into 
the bordering States. 
This species is of the size of the last but 
is blackish (darkest on the head and breast), 
with a white belly and under 
tail coverts, the latter streak- 
ed with dusky. Their habits 
and nesting habits are the 
same as those of the eastern 
Phcebe, they building their 
nests of mud, moss, weeds 
and feathers on ledges or 
about buildings, and generally close to or in the vicinity of water. They breed 
during April or May, laying four or five white eggs which cannot be distinguish- 
ed from those of the common Phoebe. Size .75 x .55. 
White 
4 57—458 
4d8a. Western Black Phoebe. Sayornis nigricans semiatra. 
Range. — Pacific Coast of Mexico and the United States, breeding north to 
Oregon. 
This variety differs from the last in having the under tail coverts pure white. 
Its nesting habits are precisely the same and the eggs indistinguishable. 
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