SAY’S FLYCATCHER.
Muscicapa Saya, Bonap.
PLATE CCCLIX. Male and Female.
This species was first discovered by Titian Peale, Esq. of Philadelphia, and named after Mr Thomas Say by Bonaparte, who described and figured it in his continuation of Wilson’s American Ornithology. It appears to range over a very extensive portion of country, lying between Mexico and the settlements of the British Fur Companies, a pair having been procured at Carlton House, as mentioned by Dr Richardson. Little is yet known of the habits of this species, but it would seem, from Mr Nuttall’s remarks, to be a rupestrine Flycatcher, and not strictly arboreal, as supposed by Mr Swainson.
“We first observed this bird,” says Mr Nuttall, “in our route westward, about the 14th of June, within the first range of the Rocky Mountains called the Black Hills, and in the vicinity of that northern branch of the Platte known by the name of Larimie’s Fork. At the time, we saw a pair perched as usual on masses of rocks, from which, like the Pewee, though occasionally alighted, they flew after passing insects, without uttering any note that we heard; and from their predilection, it is probable they inhabit among broken hills and barren rocks, where we have scarcely a doubt, from their behaviour, they had at this time a brood in a nest among these granite cliffs. They appeared very timorous on our approach, and seemed very limited in their range. Except among the Blue Mountains of the Columbia, we scarcely ever saw them again. Their manners appear to be very much like those of the Common Pewee; but they are much more silent and shy.”
Muscicapa Saya, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 67.—Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 20, pl. 2, fig. 3.
Tyrannula Saya, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 142.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 4.
Bill of moderate length, rather slender, broader than high at the base, straight; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight and declinate, to near the tip, which is deflected, slender, compressed, and acute, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch close to the tip; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the back broad, the dorsal line ascending and almost straight, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, partly covered by the bristly feathers.
Head of moderate size, ovate; neck of moderate length; body slender. Feet short; tarsus with six very broad anterior scutella; toes free, slender; the first stout, the lateral equal; claws long, arched, slender, much compressed, very acute.
Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of the upper mandible slender. Wings rather long, rounded; primaries tapering, rounded, the outer not sinuated on the inner web, the first half an inch shorter than the second, which is half a twelfth shorter than the third, the fourth about the same length as the second, the rest moderately graduated; secondaries long, broad, rounded. Tail rather long, very slightly divaricate and emarginate, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill and feet black, basal margin of lower mandible yellow. Iris hazel. Upper parts brownish-grey, the head more tinged with brown; upper tail-coverts and tail brownish-black; wings of a darker tint than the back, the feathers margined with greyish-white; a dusky spot before the eye; fore part and sides of neck light brownish-grey, shaded into pale brownish-red on the breast and abdomen; lower wing-coverts reddish-white.
Length to end of tail 7 inches, to end of wings 5 8/12; wing from flexure 4 2/12; tail 3 1/4; bill along the ridge 7 1/2/12, along the edge of lower mandible 10 1/2/12; tarsus 9 1/2/12; hind toe 3/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 5 1/2/12, its claw 3 1/2/12.