446 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
feet at the foot of Pecos Baldy (Bailey); [it is well distributed over the Sangre dc 
Cristo Range near Cowles and Taos at elevations of 8,000 to about 11,000 feet 
(Ligon, 1919).] In 1904 in the Taos Mountains, the species was common in the 
Wheeler Peak amphitheater, 11,400-12,000 feet, July 20-August 2, and was seen 
August 7, at Lake Fork, just above Twining, at 10,700 feet (Bailey). [It was 
noted, June 18, 1924, in timber northeast of Wheeler Peak at about 10,000 feet 
Ligon).] 
In the fall migration specimens were taken August 13 and 14, 1904, at about 
8,000 feet in Arroyo Hondo (Gaut). It was noted August 20, 1904, at the foot of 
the Culebra Mountains (Bailey), and by September 6, 1889, had appeared at Apache 
(Anthony). It had been already seen August 2, 1900, near Kingston (Metcalfe); 
and the last one taken near Willis was on September 6, 1883 (Hcnshaw).—W. W. 
Cooke. 
Nest. —Usually 30 to 60 feet from the ground in coniferous trees; shallow, made 
of twigs, rootlets, and bark ravelings, plant stems and sometimes moss. Eggs: 
Generally 3, creamy or pinkish, wreathed around the larger end with different 
shades of reddish brown, with purple or lilac shell markings. 
Food. —Almost wholly winged insects, and of these principally (April to Sep¬ 
tember, 82.56 per cent) hymenoptera. Of 69 stomachs examined, 16 contained 
honey bees. Unlike the kingbirds, which select the drones, these stomachs included 
36 workers and 27 drones, which would indicate that if the bird were abundant 
or domestic like the Phoebes, it would be a pest to bee keepers; but as all but 
occasional individuals live in the forested mountains, they can do little harm. 
General Habits. —In going up from the plains into the Pecos 
Mountains, the Olive-sided Flycatcher was first gratefully encountered 
at 7,500 feet on Willow Creek, perching characteristically on the tip of a 
spruce, and from that on was heard at intervals up to 11,600 feet, at the 
base of Pecos Baldy. When sitting on his spruce tip merely soliloquizing, 
his call was a soft pupupip, a two-syllabled pu-pu, or occasionally a four- 
syllabled pu-pu-pu-pu; but when roused he gave a loud, clarion-like call 
which, from association with his setting, was easily rendered Pi-cea! top. 
Additional Literature.—Dixon, Joseph, Condor, XXII, 200-202, 1920 
(nesting).— Hunt, Richard, Condor, XXV, 202-208, 1923 (phonetics of bird 
songs).— Saunders, A. A., Condor, XXVI, 209-213, 1924 (study of bird sounds). 
VERMILION FLYCATCHER: Pyrocephalus rublnus mexicanus Sclater 
Plate 44 
Description. — Length: About 5.5-6.2 inches, wing 3.2-3.4, tail 2.6-2.8. Head 
of male with full, globular crest; bill slender, narrow at base like Sayornis; tail nearly 
even, of broad feathers. Adult male: Erectile crest and underparts bright red , under¬ 
parts sometimes partly orange; upper parts and stripe on side of head grayish brown; 
wings and tail blackish, with lighter edgings; wing linings edged with pink or scarlet. 
Adult female: Slightly crested head and upperparts grayish brown; underparts 
dull white, breast and sides lightly streaked with brown, belly tinged with yellow, 
salmon, or red. Immature male (second year?): Like adult female, but posterior 
underparts suffused with salmon-pink or pale orange-red. Young: Above grayish 
brown, the feathers tipped with pale buff or whitish, giving a scaled effect; wings 
and tail with buff or whitish edgings; underparts white, chest and sides streaked 
with brownish grav. 
