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THE SMALL GREEN CRESTED FLYCATCHER.
MUSCÍCAPA ACADICA, GMEL.
P L A T E C X L I V . MALE AND FEMALE.
THE Small Green Crested Flycatcher is not abundant, even in South
Carolina, in the maritime parts of which it occasionally breeds. It
merely passes through Louisiana, in early spring and in autumn; but
it is found distributed from Maryland to the eastern extremities of Nova
Scotia, proceeding perhaps still farther north, although neither I nor
any of my party observed a single individual in Newfoundland or Labrador.
It is a usual inhabitant of the most gloomy and secluded parts of our
deep woods, although now and then a pair may be found to have taken
possession of a large orchard near the house of the farmer. Almost as
pugnacious as the King Bird, it is seen giving chase to every intruder
upon its premises, not only during the season of its loves, but during
its whole stay with us. As soon as it has paired, it becomes so retired
that it seldom goes farther from its nest than is necessary for procuring
food.
Perched on some small spray or dry twig, it stands erect, patiently
eying the objects around. When it perceives an insect, it sweeps after it
with much elegance, snaps its bill audibly as it seizes the prey, and on
realighting, utters a disagreeable squeak. While perched it is heard at
intervals repeating its simple, guttural, gloomy notes, resembling the syllables
queae, queae, tchooe, tchewee. These notes are often followed, as
the bird passes from one tree to another, by a low murmuring chirr or
twitter, which it keeps up until it alights, when it instantly quivers its
wings, and jerks its tail a few times. At intervals it emits a sweeter
whistling note, sounding like weet, weet, weet, will; and when angry it
emits a loud chirr.
Early in May, in our Middle Districts, the Small Green Crested
Flycatcher constructs its nest, which varies considerably in different parts
of the country, being made warmer in the northern localities, where it
breeds almost a month later. It is generally placed in the darkest shade
of the woods, in the upright forks of some middle-sized tree, from eight
SMALL GREEN CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 2 5 7
to twenty feet above the ground, sometimes so low as to allow a man to
look into it. In some instances I have found it on the large horizontal
branches of an oak, when it looked like a knot. It is always neat and
well-finished, the inside measuring about two inches in diameter, with a
depth of an inch and a half. The exterior is composed of stripes of the
inner bark of various trees, vine fibres and grasses, matted together with
the down of plants, wool, and soft moss. The lining consists of fine grass,
a few feathers, and horse hair. The whole is light, elastic, and firmly
coherent, and is glued to the twigs or saddled on the branch with great
care. The eggs are from four to six, small, and pure white. While the
female is sitting, the male often emits a scolding chirr of defiance, and
rarely wanders far from the nest, but relieves his mate at intervals. In
the Middle States they often have two broods in the season, but in
Maine or farther north only one. The young follow their parents in the
most social maimer; but before these birds leave us entirely, the old and
the young form different parties, and travel in small groups towards
warmer regions.
I have thought that this species throws up pellets more frequently
than most others. Its food consists of insects during spring and summer,
such as moths, wild bees, butterflies, and a variety of smaller kinds ; but
in autumn it greedily devours berries and small grapes. Although not
shy with respect to man, it takes particular notice of quadrupeds, following
a minx or polecat to a considerable distance, with every manifestation
of anger. The mutual affection of the male and female, and their
solicitude respecting their eggs or young, are quite admirable.
The flight of the Small Green Flycatcher is performed by short glidings,
supported by protracted flaps of the wings, not unlike those of the
Pewee Flycatcher; and it is often seen, while passing low through the
woods or following the margins of a creek, to drink in the manner of
swallows, or sweep after its prey, until it alights. Like the King Bird,
it always migrates by day.
MUSCÍCAPA ACADICA, CL Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. G8.
SMALL GREEN CRESTED FLYCATCHER, MUSCÍCAPA QUERULA, Wils. Amer. Ornith.
vol ii. p. 77- ph 13, fig. 3.
SMALL PEWEE, Nuttall, Manual, part. i. p. 288.
Adult Male. Plate CXLIV. Fig. 1.
Bill of ordinary length, depressed (much deeper than in M. Traillii),
tapering to a point, the lateral outlines a little convex; upper mandible