_Ptiliogonys nitens_, SW. An. in Menag. 1838, 285.—BON. Consp. 1850,
335.—HEERMANN, Jour. A. N. Sc. Phila. II, 1853, 263.—CASSIN, Ill.
Birds Texas, etc. 1854, 169, pl. xxix. _Cichlopsis nitens_, BAIRD,
Birds N. Am. 1858, 320, 923. _Phænopepla nitens_, SCLATER, P. Z.
S. 1858, 543; 1864, 173 (City of Mexico).—BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864,
416.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 131. “_Lepturus galeatus_, LESS.”
SP. CHAR. (No. 8,275 ♂.) Tail broad, almost fan-shaped; graduated
slightly; not at all emarginate, and longer than wing. First quill
broad, slightly falcate, scarcely attenuated; more than half the
second, which about equals the tenth; sixth longest; third equal to
seventh. Feathers on nape rather full, with a lengthened, pointed,
narrow, occipital crest.
_Male_ (No. 8,275) entirely glossy greenish-black; the inner webs of
all the primary quills with a large, lengthened patch of white, which
does not reach the inner margin; their outer webs very narrowly edged
with ashy, as are also lateral tail-feathers externally.
_Female_ (No. 8,274) brownish-ash, paler below; the white of inner
webs of quills obsolete; the greater coverts and quills edged
externally with whitish, the anal and crissal feathers edged and
tipped with the same; the outer tail-feather with narrow edge of white
externally towards end.
Immature birds show every gradation of color between the two extremes
described above.
Total length, 7.60; wing, 3.80; tail, 4.35; length of bill from
forehead, .46, from nostril .31, along gape, .66; tarsus, .70; middle
toe and claw, .65.
[Line drawing: _Phænopepla nitens._
8275]
HAB. Mountainous region of the southern portions of Western and Middle
Provinces of United States, and south to Orizaba; Cape St. Lucas;
Plateau of Mexico (resident, SUMICHRAST).
HABITS. So far as known, this bird occurs in the mountainous portions
of the United States, from Fort Tejon, Cal., to Mexico, and from the
Rio Grande to San Diego. It is closely allied, in its appearance, as
also in many of its habits, both with the Waxwings and the
Flycatchers.
[Illustration: _Phænopepla nitens._]
This species was first detected within the United States by Colonel
McCall, who obtained it in California in 1852. Its habits, as he
observed them, partook of those of the true Flycatcher. They are said
to be remarkable for their slender, active form, in which their long
and ample tail, and the elongated feathers of their head, capable of
being erected into a crest, are conspicuous features. Colonel McCall
first met with them in a clump of trees on the borders of a mountain
brook, between Valliecita and El Chino. A number of them were together
actively engaged in the pursuit of insects. They were light and
graceful on the wing, though less swift and decided in their motions
than the true Flycatchers. In these evolutions the bright white spot
on the wing, visible only when the wing is spread, was quite
conspicuous, and in fine contrast with the glossy black of the general
plumage. In his journey Colonel McCall afterwards met this bird
several times, either in small companies or singly. They were always
either on mountain sides, or in the timbered borders of mountain
streams.
Dr. Henry met with this species near the Little Lagoon, on the
Colorado Desert. It was perched on a mezquite-tree, jerking its tail
almost incessantly, as do other kinds of Flycatchers, and, from time
to time, dashing in irregular curves high into the air in pursuit of
insects. It became quite abundant as he approached the Colorado,
occurring in companies of twenty and thirty. At Fort Yuma he also met
with them in considerable numbers late in November, as they were
migrating southward. Dr. Henry describes its note as a low, plaintive
whistle. He ascertained that it breeds in California by finding
specimens of young birds. He likewise met with this species near Fort
Webster, in New Mexico; and Dr. Kennerly also noticed it, in February
and March, between Big Sandy Creek and the Colorado River.
Mr. Dresser obtained two specimens of this species at Eagle Pass. One
of these had its stomach filled with the berries of a species of
mistletoe that grows abundantly on the mezquite-trees. He noticed that
it carries its crest erect and much recurved, after the manner of the
European _Parus cristatus_.
Sumichrast states that this species, called _Reyecito_, is well
distributed throughout the Plateau of Mexico, but only ranges in the
valley of the Orizaba, to the height of about 1,500 metres, rarely
coming as far as that. It is also common at Tehauntepec and other
places.
Dr. Cooper found them quite numerous, in winter, near the Colorado. He
also found them common, in December, about the Mohave River, and in
summer, from Los Angeles to San Diego. They were found to prefer the
trees in which the mistletoe grows, on the berries of which they
largely feed, though they occasionally pursue insects in a zigzag
course similar to that of the _Sayornis nigricans_.
They almost constantly utter a loud cry of alarm, and when pursued are
very wild. When wounded, they conceal themselves so closely in the
thick tufts of the mistletoe as to be found with difficulty. Many left
the Colorado Valley in April, but a few remained. Their notes Dr.
Cooper describes as similar to those of the Crested Flycatchers, but
sweeter.
It was found by Feilner, at Fort Crook, in April, 1860, but has not
been met with near the coast so far to the north.
A nest of this bird, obtained by Dr. Cooper, on the 27th of April, was
built on a horizontal branch of the mezquite (_Algarobia_), twelve
feet from the ground. It was found near Fort Mohave, on the Colorado
River. The nest is a very flat structure, four inches in diameter, and
less than two in height. The cavity is less than an inch in depth. The
nest is made almost entirely of hempen or flax-like fibres of plants,
interwoven with fine grasses, stems of plants, and stalks of a larger
size. It is lined with a soft downy substance of a vegetable
character.
The eggs, two in number, are of an oblong-oval shape, nearly equal at
either end, and with a ground-color of a light slate, tinged with a
yellowish-green. They are marked and blotched equally over the entire
egg, with spots and blotches of various lines, from a light, faint,
obscure purple to deeper tints of purplish-brown, even to black. It is
a very marked egg, and unique in its appearance. They measure .90 by
.60 of an inch.
Dr. Coues found this species a summer resident in Arizona, somewhat
rare about Fort Whipple, but found very abundantly a little farther
south, and a permanent resident in the southern portions of that
Territory. It inhabits rather open country in preference to densely
wooded regions. He describes it as a shy, wild, and restless bird,
with a superb song, powerful and finely modulated. Dr. Coues appears
to think that this species has but little affinity with the forms with
which it is usually grouped.