FAMILY VII. MUSCICAPINÆ. FLYCATCHERS
Bill depressed, triangular, compressed at the end, upper mandible notched, lower with the point slightly ascending. Head rather large, depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet generally short; tarsus short, slender, with very broad scutella; toes four, free; the hind toe not proportionally large; claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, with the first quill generally long, the outer three longest. Tail various. Tongue flattened, sagittate, bristly at the tip; œsophagus wide, without crop; stomach elliptical, moderately muscular, with the lateral muscles distinct, the epithelium thin, dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine short; cœca extremely small; cloaca globular. Trachea simple; inferior laryngeal muscles, forming on each side a large pad, but not divisible into several portions as in the singing birds. Nests regularly formed, cup-shaped. Eggs from four to six.
GENUS I. MILVULUS, Swains. SWALLOW-TAIL
Bill moderate, rather stout, straight, broad at the base, gradually compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal outline a little convex, the edges sharp and nearly perpendicular, with a very small notch close to the small deflected tip; lower mandible with the ridge very broad at the base, the sides rounded, the tip minute and ascending. Nostrils basal, broadly elliptical. Head rather large, depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet rather short; tarsus short, slender, compressed, with very broad scutella, some of which almost meet behind; toes free, the hind toe not proportionally larger, all scutellate above; claws of moderate size, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, second quill longest, first almost as long as third, the three outer abruptly notched near the attenuated tip. Tail extremely elongated and forked, the middle feathers being of ordinary length, the lateral longest.
52. 1. Milvulus Tyrannus, Linn. Prairie Swallow-tail. – Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Plate CLXVIII. Male.
Tail more than twice the length of the body; upper part of head and cheeks deep black, the feathers of the crown bright yellow at the base; back ash-grey, rump bluish-black; wings and tail brownish-black, the lateral feathers of the latter with the outer web white for half its length; lower parts white.
Male
, 141/4, 14.
In Louisiana, very rare. Accidental in New Jersey.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa Savana, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 1.
Muscicapa Savana, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa Savana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 274.
Forked-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa Savana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 387.
53. 2. Milvulus forficatus, Gmel. Red-shouldered Swallow-tail. – Swallow-tailed Flycatcher
Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 3. Male.
Tail longer than the body; upper part of the head, cheeks, and hind neck ash-grey; back brownish-grey, rump dusky; anterior wing-coverts scarlet, quills brownish-black, tail-feathers deep black, the three outer on each side rose-coloured to near the end; lower parts white before, rose-coloured behind.
Male
, 11, wing 51/8.
Arkansas. Rare in Louisiana.
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa forficata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 15.
Muscicapa forficata, Bonap. Syn. p. 275.
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa forficata, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 275.
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa forficata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 426.
GENUS II. MUSCICAPA, Linnæus. FLYCATCHER
Bill moderate, or rather long, stout, straight, broad at the base, gradually compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal outline sloping, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very small notch close to the small deflected tip; lower mandible with the ridge very broad at the base, the sides rounded, the tip minute and ascending. Nostrils basal, roundish. Head rather large, depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet short; tarsus very short, slender, with six very broad scutella, three of which almost meet behind; toes free, the hind toe large, all scutellate above; claws rather long, very slender, arched, finely pointed. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, second and third quills longest; outer primaries generally attenuated at the end. Tail long, even, or emarginate.
* Bill large. Head with a vermilion patch, outer quills attenuated. Tyrannus of authors.
54. 1. Muscicapa verticalis, Say. Arkansaw Flycatcher
Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
The outer five primaries much attenuated toward the end, the first more so, the fifth least, the third longest, but the outer four nearly equal; tail almost even. Upper parts ash-grey, the back tinged with yellow; a patch of bright vermilion on the top of the head; wing-coverts and quills chocolate-brown; upper tail-coverts and tail black, the outer web of the lateral feathers yellowish-white; throat greyish-white, sides and fore part of neck ash-grey, the rest of the lower parts pure yellow. Female similar.
Male
, 9, 151/2.
Columbia River, Rocky Mountains, and across to Texas. Accidental in Louisiana. Migratory.
Tyrannus verticalis, Say Long's Exped. v. ii. p. 60.
Arkansaw Flycatcher, Muscicapa verticalis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 18.
Muscicapa verticalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Arkansaw Flycatcher, Muscicapa verticalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 273.
Arkansaw Flycatcher, Muscicapa verticalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 422; v. v.
55. 2. Muscicapa dominicensis, Brisson. Pipiry Flycatcher
Plate CLXXII. Male.
The outer six primaries attenuated at the end, the first more so, the sixth least; the third longest, but the second almost equal, the fourth and fifth very little shorter, the first much longer than the seventh; tail emarginate. Upper parts dull ash-grey, shaded with brown posteriorly; a concealed patch of bright vermilion on the top of the head; wing-coverts, quills and tail chocolate-brown, margined with brownish-white; lower parts anteriorly ash-grey, behind greyish-white tinged with yellow, lower wing-coverts pale sulphur yellow. Female similar.
Male
, 87/8, 143/8.
Florida Keys; and southern parts of South Carolina. Abundant. Migratory.
Tyrannus griseus, Vieill., Ois. d'Amer. pl. 46.
Pipiry Flycatcher, Muscicapa dominicensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 392.
56. 3. Muscicapa Tyrannus, Linn. Tyrant Flycatcher, – King Bird
Plate LXXIX. Male and Female.
The outer two primaries attenuated at the end, the second longest, the first longer than the third; tail even. Upper parts dark bluish-grey, the head greyish-black, with a bright vermilion patch margined with yellow; quills, coverts, and tail-feathers brownish-black, the former margined with dull white; the latter largely tipped with white; lower parts greyish-white, the breast pale grey. Female duller, the upper parts tinged with brown, the lower more dusky.
Male
, 81/2, 141/2.
North America generally. Migratory. A few winter in South Florida.
Lanius Tyrannus, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 136.
Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa Tyrannus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 66.
Muscicapa Tyrannus, Bonap. Syn. p. 66.
King-bird or Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa Tyrannus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 265.
Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa Tyrannus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 403; v. v. p. 420.
** Bill large. Head plain, crested, quills not attenuated.
57. 4. Muscicapa crinita, Linn. Great Crested Flycatcher
Plate CXXIX. Male.
Third quill longest, first and sixth equal; upper parts dull greenish-olive; quills and coverts dark brown, the primaries margined with light red, the secondaries with yellowish-white, of which there are two bars across the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; inner webs of the tail-feathers, except the two middle, light red; margins of inner webs of quills tinged with the same; fore-neck and sides of the head greyish-blue, the rest of the lower parts yellow. Female similar.
Male
, 81/2, 13.
From Texas northward, generally distributed. Abundant. Migratory.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa crinita, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 75.
Muscicapa crinita, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 271.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa crinita, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 176; v. v. p. 423.
58. 5. Muscicapa Cooperi, Nuttall. Cooper's Flycatcher. – Olive-sided Flycatcher
Wing pointed, second quill longest, first longer than third, tail emarginate, the three first primaries very slightly attenuated at the ends; upper parts, cheeks, and sides of the neck, dusky brown, tinged with greyish-olive, the head darker; quills and tail blackish-brown, the secondaries margined with brownish-white; downy feathers on the sides of the rump white; lower parts greyish-white, the sides dusky grey. Young similar to adult.
Male
, 71/2, 123/4.
From Texas northward along the Atlantic. Never seen far in the interior. Columbia River. Migratory.
Olive-sided Flycatcher or Pe-pe, Muscicapa Cooperi, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 282.
Tyrannus borealis, Northern Tyrant, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 141.
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Muscicapa Cooperi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 422; v. v. p. 422.
* Bill more slender. Tyrannula of authors.
59. 6. Muscicapa Saya, Bonap. Say's Flycatcher
Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Third quill longest, second and fourth scarcely shorter, first a little longer than sixth; tail very slightly emarginate; upper parts greyish-brown; upper tail-coverts and tail brownish-black; wings of a darker tint than the back, the feathers margined with brownish-white; a dusky spot before the eye; fore part and sides of neck light greyish-brown, shaded with pale brownish-red on the breast and abdomen; lower wing-coverts reddish-white.
Male
, 7, wing 42/12.
Arkansas. Columbia River. Fur Countries. Never seen along the Atlantic. Abundant. Migratory.
Say's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Saya, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 20.
Muscicapa Saya, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Tyrannula Saya, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 142.
Say's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Saya, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 277.
Say's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Saya, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 428.
60. 7. Muscicapa nigricans, Swains. Rocky Mountain Flycatcher
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 6. Male.
Third quill longest, second and fourth little shorter, first and sixth about equal; tail very slightly emarginate; head, hind neck, fore part of back, fore neck, a portion of the head, and sides, dark sooty-brown; the rest of the upper parts greyish-brown; secondary coverts tipped, and secondaries margined with greyish-white, of which colour is the great part of the outer web of the lateral tail-feathers; middle of breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts white; lower wing-coverts greyish-brown, edged with white.
Male
, 7, wing 37½/12.
Mexico and California. Rare. Migratory.
Tyrannula nigricans, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. N. S. v. i. p. 367.
Rocky Mountain Flycatcher, Muscicapa nigricans, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 302.
61. 8. Muscicapa Phœbe, Lath. Short-legged Pewit Flycatcher
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 5. Male.
Second quill longest, third almost equal, first and fourth nearly equal; tail slightly emarginate; upper parts dark olivaceous brown; the head darker, wings and tail blackish-brown, secondary coverts tipped with brownish-white, and secondary quills margined with the same; outer edges of lateral tail-feathers pale brownish-grey; fore part of neck, breast, and sides light dusky grey tinged with olive, abdomen pale dull yellow, lower tail-coverts brownish-grey margined with yellowish-white.
Male
, 69/12, wing 31/4.
Columbia River. Fur Countries. Labrador. Rare. Migratory.
Tyrannula Richardsonii, Swainson's Short-legged Pewit, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 146.
Short-legged Pewee Flycatcher, Muscicapa Richardsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 299.
62. 9. Muscicapa acadica, Gmel. Small Green-crested Flycatcher
Plate CXLIV. Male and Female.
Bill broad and much depressed; second quill longest, third a little shorter, first shorter than fourth; tail scarcely emarginate, upper parts dull greenish-olive, the head darker; wings and tail dusky-brown; two bands of dull pale yellow on the wing, the secondary quills broadly edged and tipped with the same; a narrow ring of yellowish-white round the eye; throat greyish-white; sides of neck and fore part of breast greyish-olive, the rest of the lower parts yellowish-white.
Male
, 51/2, 81/2.
From Texas northward. Migratory.
Small Green Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa querula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 77.
Small Pewee, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 288.
Muscicapa acadica, Bonap. Syn. p. 68.
Small Green-Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa acadica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 256; v. v. p. 427.
63. 10. Muscicapa fusca, Gmel. Pewee Flycatcher
Plate CXX. Male and Female.
Wing much rounded, third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, but considerably longer than second, first intermediate between sixth and seventh; tail emarginate; upper parts dull olive, the head much darker; quills and tail dusky brown, secondaries and their coverts edged with pale brown; outer tail-feathers whitish on the outer edge, unless toward the tip; lower parts dull yellowish white, the breast tinged with grey.
Male
, 7, 91/2.
Throughout the United States, and northward. Spends the winter in vast numbers in the southern parts.
Pewit Flycatcher, Muscicapa nunciola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 78.
Muscicapa fusca, Bonap. Syn. p. 68.
Pewit Flycatcher or Phœbe, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 278.
Pewee Flycatcher, Muscicapa fusca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 122; v. v. p. 424.
64. 11. Muscicapa virens, Linn. Wood Pewee Flycatcher
Plate CXV. Male.
Slightly crested; second quill longest, first shorter than third and longer than sixth; tail deeply emarginate; upper parts dusky olive, upper part of head much darker; a pale greyish ring round the eye; two bands of greyish-white on the wings, secondaries margined with the same; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown; throat and breast ash-grey tinged with green, the rest of the lower parts pale greenish-yellow.
Male
, 61/2, 11.
Throughout the United States. British Provinces. Labrador. Newfoundland. Rocky Mountains. Columbia River. Migratory.
Wood Pewee, Muscicapa rapax, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 81.
Wood Pewee, Muscicapa virens, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 285.
Muscicapa virens, Bonap. Syn. p. 68.
Wood Pewee, Muscicapa virens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 93; v. v. p. 425.
65. 12. Muscicapa Traillii, Aud. Traill's Flycatcher
Plate XLV. Male.
Slightly crested; wing rounded, with the third quill longest, second and fourth almost equal, first a little longer than sixth; tail slightly rounded, and faintly emarginate; upper parts dusky olive, upper part of head much darker; a pale greyish ring round the eye; two bands of greyish-white on the wings, secondaries margined with the same; throat and breast ash-grey, the rest of the lower parts shaded into pale yellow.
Male
, 53/4, 81/2.
Arkansas. Columbia River. Migratory.
Traill's Flycatcher, Muscicapa virens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 236; v. v. p. 426.
66. 13. Muscicapa pusilla, Swains. Least Pewee Flycatcher
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 1. Adult.
Third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, second nearly one-twelfth shorter, and exceeding the first by three and a quarter twelfths; tail slightly emarginate; upper parts light greenish-brown; loral band whitish, a narrow pale ring surrounding the eye; wings olive-brown, with two bands of dull white, secondaries margined with the same; tail olive-brown, the lateral feathers lighter, the outer web pale brownish-grey; fore part of neck and a portion of the breast and sides ash-grey, the rest of the lower parts pale yellow.
Male
, 52/12, wing 25/12.
Columbia River. Fur countries. Labrador. Newfoundland. Rare in the Atlantic States.
Tyrannula pusilla, Little Tyrant Flycatcher, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 144.
Little Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 288.
67. 14. Muscicapa minuta, Wils. Small-headed Flycatcher
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 2. Male.
Wings short, the second quill longest; tail of moderate length, even; general colour of upper parts light greenish-brown; wings and tail dark olive-brown, the outer feathers of the latter with a terminal white spot on the inner web; a narrow white ring surrounding the eye; two bands of dull white on the wing; sides of the head and neck greenish-yellow, the rest of the lower parts pale yellow, gradually fading into white behind.
Male
, 5, 82/8.
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Exceedingly rare. Migratory.
Small-headed Flycatcher, Muscicapa minuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 62.
Sylvia minuta, Bonap. Syn. p. 86.
Small-headed Sylvan Flycatcher, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 296.
68. 15. Muscicapa Ruticilla, Linn. Redstart Flycatcher. – American Redstart
Plate XL. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Second and third quills equal and longest, fourth longer than first; tail rounded. Male with the head, neck all round, fore part of breast, and back, glossy bluish-black; sides of the breast, lower wing-coverts, a patch on the wings formed by the margins of the primaries and the basal half of most of the secondaries, together with three-fourths of both webs of the outer four tail-feathers on each side, and the outer web of the next, bright orange-red; abdomen and lower tail-covert