Family Tyrannide
FLYCATCHERS.
From the systematist's standpoint Flycatchers are songless Perching Birds. It does not follow that they are voiceless, or even truly songless, but that, having the voice-organ or syrinx less highly developed than other Passeres, they are possessed of comparatively limited vocal powers. This family is peculiar to America. The Old-World Flycatchers belong to the family Muscicapidæ and are true Oscines. Some three hundred and fifty species are known. They are most abundant in the tropics, where their services as insect-catchers are in greatest demand. About thirty-five species reach the United States. Flycatchers are found wherever there are trees. As a rule they are of sedentary and solitary disposition. Their manner of feeding is characteristic. From a favorable perch, hawklike, they await passing insects, and with an aim that rarely misses launch forth into the air; there is a sharp, suggestive click of the broad bill, and, completing their aërial circle, they return to their perch and are again en garde. I. Wing over 3.00.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
A. Tail black or blackish, sometimes tipped with white, a concealed orangered crown patch. a. Under wing-coverts yellowish, no white tip on the tail. 445. GRAY KINGBIRD. b. Under wing-coverts blackish, tail tipped with white. 444. KINGBIRD. B. Inner vane of tail-feathers pale rufous; throat and breast grayish; belly sulphur-yellow. 452. CRESTED FLYCATCHER.
C. Tail fuscous, not tipped with white; no crown patch. a. Entire bill black; tail rarely more than 50 longer than wing; tarsus decidedly longer than bill; under tail-coverts always pale, yellowish white 456. PHŒBE. b. Under mandible generally in whole or part pale brownish; wing always more than 50 longer than tail; tarsus about equal to bill; some of under tail-coverts frequently with darker centers. 61. Wing over 3.50; sides and breast, except a narrow whitish line through its center, of the same color as the back. 459. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. ba. Wing under 3.50; breast and sides washed with olive-gray. 461. WOOD PEWEE.
FLYCATCHERS.
II. Wing under 3.00.
A. Upper parts between olive-brown and dark olive-green, but with an evident brownish tinge, or lower mandible brownish. a. Wing over 2.60; lower mandible flesh-color or whitish; under parts with only a very slight tinge of yellow. 466a. TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER. b. Wing under 2.60; lower mandible rarely clear flesh-color; generally strongly tinged with brownish 467. LEAST FLYCATCHER.
B. Upper parts olive-green without a brownish tinge; lower mandible straw-color. a. First primary about equal to fifth; under parts white, slightly washed with yellowish on the breast and belly; throat white. 465. ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. b. First primary shorter than fifth; under parts sulphur-yellow; the throat and breast more or less washed with olive-green. 463. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
The FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (442. Milvulus tyrannus), a South American species rarely found north of southern Mexico and the southern Lesser Antilles, has been recorded from Mississippi, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (443. Milvulus forficatus) is found in the summer as far north as southern Kansas and western Louisiana. It has occurred accidentally near Hudson Bay, in Manitoba, Ontario, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, and Florida. It may be known by its long, deeply forked tail and scarlet sides. 444. Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn.). KINGBIRD. Ad.-Upper parts grayish slate-color, darker on the head and upper tail-coverts; head with a concealed orange-red crest; tail black, tipped with white; under parts white, washed with grayish on the breast. Im.-Similar, but without the crown patch, and with the plumage more or less tinged with ochraceous-buff. L., 8.51; W., 4.64; T., 3.55; B. from N., •55.