Oft the Phoebe's cheery notes
Wake the laboring swain;
"Come, come!" say the merry throats,
"Morn is here again."
Phoebe, Phoebe! let them sing for aye,
Calling him to labor at the break of day.
--C. C. M.
Nearly everywhere in the United States we find this cheerful bird, known
as Pewee, Barn Pewee, Bridge Pewee, or Phoebe, or Pewit Flycatcher. "It
is one of that charming coterie of the feathered tribe who cheer the
abode of man with their presence." There are few farmyards without a
pair of Pewees, who do the farmer much service by lessening the number
of flies about the barn, and by calling him to his work in the morning
by their cheery notes.
Dr. Brewer says that this species is attracted both to the vicinity of
water and to the neighborhood of dwellings, probably for the same
reason--the abundance of insects in either situation. They are a
familiar, confiding, and gentle bird, attached to localities, and
returning to them year after year. Their nests are found in sheltered
situations, as under a bridge, a projecting rock, in the porches of
houses, etc. They have been known to build on a small shelf in the porch
of a dwelling, against the wall of a railroad station, within reach of
the passengers, and under a projecting window-sill, in full view of the
family, entirely unmoved by the presence of the latter at meal time.
Like all the flycatcher family the Phoebe takes its food mostly flying.
Mrs. Wright says that the Pewee in his primitive state haunts dim woods
and running water, and that when domesticated he is a great bather, and
may be seen in the half-light dashing in and out of the water as he
makes trips to and from the nest. After the young are hatched both old
and young disport themselves about the water until moulting time. She
advises: "Do not let the Phoebes build under the hoods of your windows,
for their spongy nests harbor innumerable bird-lice, and under such
circumstances your fly-screens will become infested and the house
invaded."
In its native woods the nest is of moss, mud, and grass placed on a
rock, near and over running water; but in the vicinity of settlements
and villages it is built on a horizontal bridge beam, or on timber
supporting a porch or shed. The eggs are pure white, somewhat spotted.
The notes, to some ears, are _Phoebe, phoebe, pewit, phoebe!_ to others,
of somewhat duller sense of hearing, perhaps, _Pewee, pewee, pewee!_ We
confess to a fancy that the latter is the better imitation.