. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. FLYCATCHERS IQ3 or similar points of vrinlagc, from whuii they can j^L-l an unobstructed view of at least the innnediate surroimdings. 'l"o such selected perches they are likely to return after dashing flights to capture passing insects. The bird's characteristic note is a sharp and shrill chatter- ing cry, frequently uttered in flight, the i)hrase (if it may be so termed) being emphasized at its end by a swift upward flutter. The Kingbird furnishes a cons])icuous illustra- tion of the saying, " Give a dog a bad name and everybody will kic
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. FLYCATCHERS IQ3 or similar points of vrinlagc, from whuii they can j^L-l an unobstructed view of at least the innnediate surroimdings. 'l"o such selected perches they are likely to return after dashing flights to capture passing insects. The bird's characteristic note is a sharp and shrill chatter- ing cry, frequently uttered in flight, the i)hrase (if it may be so termed) being emphasized at its end by a swift upward flutter. The Kingbird furnishes a cons])icuous illustra- tion of the saying, " Give a dog a bad name and everybody will kick ; In this instance, the bad name, " Bee Martin," has been furnished by careless or ignorant observers who insist that the bird destroys honeybees, whereas the care- ful investigations of experts in the United States Bureau of Biological Survey jirove conclusively that no less than 85 per cent, of its food consists of insects, mostly of a harmful nature. It eats the common rose-chafer or rose-bug, and, more remarkable still, it devours blister-beetles freely. As to honeybees, an examination of 634 stom- achs showed only 61 bees in 22 stomachs, and of these 51 were useless drones. On the other hand, it devours robber-flies, which catch and destroy honeybees. Grasshoppers and crickets, with a few bugs and some cutworms, and a few other insects make up the rest of the animal food. The vegetable food consists of fruit and a few seeds. The very slight damage that the bird (Iocs should count for nothing when compared with the great service it renders not only in destroying noxious insects, but by its jiersistent warfare upon Hawks and Crows, which often atTords efficient protection to nearby poultry vards and young chickens at Photo by H. K. Job A KINGBIRD FAMILY Courtesy of Uuting Pub. Co. GRAY KINGBIRD Tyrannus dominicensis {Giiiclin) \. o. u. 9 inches. Upper feathers of crown General Description.— Length, parts, gray ; inuicr parts, white. Color.— A
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Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidbirdsofameri, bookyear1923
