260 
FLYCATCHERS 
464. Empidonax difficilis Baird. Western Flycatcher. 
Adults. — Upper parts olivaceous (brownish in winter), wing bars dull 
buffy (brighter in winter); under parts dull yellow , shaded 
with brown across breast, brightening to sulphur yellow on 
belly and under tail coverts; under wing coverts buffy, 
deepening to ochraceous on edge of wing; width of bill at 
nostrils decidedly greater than half the length of exposed 
culmen. Young: similar, but browner above, with wing 
bands yellowish brown or rusty buff, sulphur yellow of belly 
replaced by dull white. Length: 5.50-6.00. Male: wing 
2.50-2.90, tail 2.35-2.60, bill .57-.63, bill from nostril .29- 
.33, width at base .25-.2S, tarsus .64-.69. Female: wing 2.30-2.60, tail 
2.20-2.45. 
Fig. 339. 
Remarks. — The distinct yellow tone of the under parts distinguishes 
difficilis from all western flycatchers. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Canadian zones from the east¬ 
ern foothills of the Rocky Mountains and adjacent ranges to the Pacific, 
and from southern Alaska south to northern Lower California; migrates 
to Costa Rica. 
Nest. — Usually not far from water, in alders, trees, stumps, roots, under 
stream banks, on rock ledges, in natural cavities, or about buildings; 
made of plant stems and fibers, down, inner bark, rootlets, leaves, and 
moss, lined with horsehair and feathers, often coated with green moss. 
Eggs: 3 or 4, white, blotched and spotted with brown and buff pink. 
Food. — Largely injurious insects. 
The western flycatcher is a widely distributed bird, as Mr. Allen 
says, shade apparently being its principal requirement, for it ranges 
from the lowlands almost to timberline. It is said to have a song 
and a sweet call, beside a sharp chirp uttered when angry or 
frightened. 
464.2. Empidonax insulicola Oberh. Santa Barbara Fly¬ 
catcher. 
Adult male. — Upper parts olive brown, slightly darker on head and 
paler and more greenish on rump ; wings with two conspicuous brownish 
white bars; throat grayish, faintly washed with yellow : rest of under parts 
straw yellow, slightly tinged on breast and sides with olive brown. Wing: 
2.68, tail 2.40, exposed culmen .47, tarsus .88. 
Remarks. — E. insulicola differs from E. difficilis in its darker upper 
parts and paler under parts, the breast having little of the brown wash of 
difficilis. 
Distribution. —Santa Barbara Islands, California. 
Nest. — In the side of a cliff, a cave, or pocket in a boulder, made of 
strips of bark and vegetable fibers. Eggs: 2 or 3, white or creamy, dotted 
with reddish about the larger end. 
466. Empidonax traillii ( Aud.). Traill Flycatcher. 
Width of bill at nostrils decidedly greater than half the length of ex¬ 
posed culmen. Adults: eye ring whitish ; upper parts olive, darker on head 
from dusky centers of coronal feathers ; wing bars varying from brownish 
to whitish ; under parts white , shaded with gray across breast, tinged with 
yellow beneath ; under wing coverts yellowish white. Young: browner 
above, yellower beneath; wing bands buff or yellowish brown. Male: length 
