Page:Field key to the land birds .. (IA fieldkeytolandbi00knob).pdf/51

Rh ElELU KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS.

21

PERCHING BIRDS. — Fasseres, Bill.

Toes.

— Variable. — Four, on

hind a level toe as long as middle toe, and having usually the longest nail of



them all. Of twelve

Tail.

—

FLYCATCHERS.

feathers.

— TijranHulae.

— Broad and hooked at the point. Food. — Insects caught on the wing.

Bill.

^

flat,

The Flycatchers are summer birds. They perch on In the limbs of trees, and rarely visit the ground. color and size they strongly resemble the Vireos, but may be known by the following marks Flycatcher sits upright and motionless on the 1. end of a dead limb, waiting for an insect to fly by. He catches it on the wing, and generally returns to the same perch. Vireo hops busily from branch to branch, searching for insects under the leaves, or in the crevices of the bark. 2. The Flycatcher's head and sides are of the same color, without stripes or light lines. The Vireos have a whitish line above or sometimes around the eye. 3. On close observation it may be seen that the Flycatcher's bill is broad and flat, beset with longbristles, while the Vireo's bill is narrow and thick,

A

A

without

40.

bristles.

KINGBIRD.

—

Tyrannus tyramius. Length, Gray above, darker on wing and tail an orange spot half hidden on the top of the head unThe favorite haunts of the Kingbird derparts white. are orchards, and dead limbs on the edges of meadows, 8.J

inches.