FLYCATCHERS 
295 
Field Marks. The pewees never flirt their tails as do the phoebes. The sides of the 
breast are slightly darker, giving a better defined and narrower light median line. Their 
best identification mark, however, is their call-note which is much like that of the Eastern 
Phoebe but drawn out into a long “ Pee-e-weee” without appreciable accent but with arising 
inflexion at the end. The female varies the call by dropping the last note, making it 
*■' Pee~e-e~e 
Probably best separated from the Richardson’s Pewee by this call, which is noticeably 
different from the note of that bird. 
Nesting, A well made but slight structure of fine fibres and rootlets, covered with 
lichens and saddled on a branch. 
Distribution. North and South America. In Canada, west at least to Manitoba. 
The long-drawn, plaintive “ Pee-e-wee” of this bird is a characteristic 
sound of the open woodlands in the spring, and after other birds have 
relapsed into midsummer silence its mournful note may still occasionally 
be heard. 
Economic Status. The food of the Wood Pewee is similar to that of 
the other flycatchers, but modified, of course, by its woodland habitat. 
As it is not retiring, and frequents open groves and orchards freely, it is 
of direct benefit to the agriculturist. 
462. Richardson’s Pewee. le pioui de richardson. Myiochanes richardsoni. 
L, 6 ■ 50. Plate XLIV A. In colour and form like the Eastern Wood Pewee, but darker. 
Distinctions. Separated from the Phoebes and other small flycatchers, except the 
Eastern Wood Pewee, by its short tarsi and long wings, the latter being decidedly longer 
than the tail. Differs from its close relative, the Eastern Wood Pewee, from which it is 
specifically distinct, by greyer (less olive) back, lighter crown in less distinct contrast 
with body, and in having the breast more suffused with brownish ash. The distinctions 
from this last species can only be made by direct comparison of specimens and then not 
always easily. 
Field Marks. The pewees never flirt their tails as do the phoebes. Their best identifica- 
tion mark, however, is probably their call-note, which bears a casual resemblance to that of 
the Eastern Wood Pewee but is more abrupt and emphatic, and has been syllabized 
“dear-me” instead of a long drawn “Pee-e-iveee.” Both pewees usually keep well up in the 
trees, and are seldom seen in the low brush where similar little flycatchers are often seen. 
Nesting. A well-made but slight structure of fine fibres and rootlets, covered with 
lichens, lined with wool or hair, and saddled on a branch. 
Distribution. Western North America. In Canada, from southern Manitoba west- 
ward to the coast. The ranges of this and the Eastern Wood Pewee have not been very 
well defined on the prairies, owing largely to the difficulty of separating the two birds and 
the lack of specimens. 
SUBSPECIES. The race attributed to North America is the type one, the Western 
Wood Pewee (le Pioui de l’Ouest) Myiochanes richardsoni richardsoni. 
Though so nearly like the Eastern Wood Pewee that even so keen an 
authority as Dr. Elliot Coues admits that it is “impracticable to pronounce 
upon a Pewee, in the closet, without knowing its locality” all are agreed 
from observation in life that the two are specifically distinct. Typical 
birds of the two species are noticeably distinct and groups of specimens 
en masse show convincing differences. 
Economic Status. Probably very similar to that of the Eastern Wood 
Pewee. 
