Mar., 1911 
SUMMER BIRDS OF WILLOW CREEK VALLEY, OREGON 
67 
about the house, where they were probably nesting. On the following day two 
others -were seen some miles up Willow Creek Canyon. 
26. Colaptes c. collaris. Red-shafted Flicker. Very common along streams, 
and often seen well out in the sage brush. The perpendicular banks of streams 
form the usual nesting sites. Two or three nests were found and numerous unoc- 
cupied holes noted. One nest was examined June 29, and contained four young 
birds. The bank had caved a little, so that the heads of the nestlings could be 
seen from below their level. Only three or four woodpecker’s holes were found in 
trees. One of these had been recently made, and evidently by a Flicker. It 
seems, therefore, that however long they have been nesting in banks, they will, 
when opportunity offers, return to their ordinary nesting site. They feed largely 
on the ground and in low bushes, thus being quite independent of trees. 
27. Phalaenoptilus n. nuttalli. Nuttall Poor-will. A specimen was seen in 
the sage brush near Brogan, June 24, and the next day apparently the same bird 
was taken. One evening on coming in at dusk, one of these birds was flushed, 
evidently a female with a nest near by. It hovered about me repeatedly, some- 
times at a distance of only a few feet, occasionally uttering a low, plaintive cry. 
I was told that the species had been very plentiful in the spring, but no other 
specimens were met with. 
28. Chordeiles v. henryi. Western Nighthawk. Seen daily in large num- 
bers. While found mainly in the sage brush, specimens were seen in willow trees 
during the day. Several nests were found. 
29. Selasphorus rufus. Rufous Hummingbird. A Hummingbird was seen 
in Willow Creek Canyon, July 10, and another in Pole Creek Canyon on the fol- 
lowing day. 
30. Tyrannus t. tyrannus. Eastern Kingbird. Kingbirds did not appear to 
be very common, though several pair were noted. None were seen in the sage 
brush, and they probably nest only in the low'er portions of the valley. 
31. Tyrannus verticalis. Western Kingbird. Very plentiful, especially about 
houses where trees have been planted. 
32. Sayornis sayus. Say Phoebe. Some half-dozen specimens of this species 
were seen in all. June 25 an immature bird was killed. All were in the sage 
brush. 
33. Empidonax d. difficilis. Western Flycatcher. Moderately plentiful in the 
willow timber. A nest with four eggs was found June 28. 
34. Empidonax wrighti. Wright P'lycatcher. A pair of these flycatchers 
were seen in the sage brush, June 29, a second pair July 8, and some days later at 
least one other pair. No specimens were secured, as they were extremely shy. 
35. Otocoris a. merrilli. Dusky Horned Lark. A single Horned Lark, prob- 
ably referable to this subspecies, was seen in the sage brush near Brogan, July 25. 
36. Pica p. hudsonia. American Magpie. Abundant and seen nearly every 
day. Some of the nests noted were along dry watercourses in willow bushes not 
more than two or three feet from the ground. 
37. Corvus c. sinuatus. Western Raven. Ravens were occasionally observed 
fl 3 dng over the valley, but were seldom seen to alight. They were found in much 
larger numbers some miles up the canyons. 
38. Corvus b. hesperis. Western Crow. Moderately common along w'ater- 
courses wherever there are trees. 
39. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. On July 12, a pair of Bobolinks with 
a barely fledged young bird were seen in a low meadow near Brogan. On the fol- 
