Large bluebird size. Adults, upper parts light gray; wings brown; tail black, with the outer feathers narrowly edged with white; throat pale; breast gray; under parts sulphur yellow.

ZION. Common summer resident up to around 6,000 feet. Nests in June and July.

There is little chance of mistaking this bird for anything other than a kingbird. Its shrill voice, raised upon the slightest provocation in a series of challenging calls, is heard throughout the valleys and open slopes. No hawk or raven has any business in the region where the kingbird dwells, and is immediately forced into an undignified retreat. Wire fences and telephone lines are favorite perches, and from these vantage points the bird darts forth to capture insects. Then, in typical flycatcher fashion, it returns to its perch.

Same size as above species. Adults, like the Arkansas, but with darker back; chin distinctly white; and lacking the white edge to the tail.

ZION. Uncommon summer resident, mostly above 6,000 feet. It is especially noticeable around the East Entrance to the park. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Rare summer visitant. One observed near the rim on June 15, 1934.

Like the other members of this family, the Cassin's Kingbird sits in an upright position on some exposed perch while watching for insects. It is not an especially restless bird, usually sitting quite motionless, except for a twitch of the tail at regular intervals. It does not get along overly well with the Arkansas King bird, and when the two birds meet trouble for one or the other is to be expected.

Large bluebird size. Adults, upper parts grayish-brown; head brown; two white wing-bars; stomach, pale yellow; throat whitish; tail reddish-brown.

ZION. Common summer resident in the lower portions of the park, preferring the desert conditions found in the side canyons around the South Entrance and Coal Pits Wash.

Ordinarily this bird is rather quiet in habit, sitting upright on a low branch or bush while it watches for insects. Often it hovers momentarily by a leaf while it picks a worm from underneath. When it flies, the long, reddish tail shows clearly, and serves as an excellent means of identification. It usually nests in some protected hollow tree or other natural cavity.

A Say's Phoebe builds its nest on a fire extinguisher. National Park Service Photo.

Bluebird size. Adults, brownish above; throat and breast gray, with a brownish tinge; stomach dull brown; tail black.

ZION. Common summer resident in the lower and middle elevations. Nests in May, June and July.

BRYCE CANYON. Common summer resident below 8,500 feet. Nests in June.

The arrival of the Phoebe in late February signals the approach of spring in the Zion region. Usually the male arrives first, followed by the female about a week or ten days later. For some time they look over the prospective nesting sites, their sweet, plaintive calls a constant reminder of their presence. A favorite perch is a low hanging branch of some bush, from which point the bird watches for insects.

Wren size. Adults, dark brownish-gray back; under parts light gray, with a yellowish wash on the stomach; prominent white eye-ring; two white wing-bars.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident, usually seen along the stream courses in the lower canyons, and in the side canyons above the plateau rim. Nests in July.

The identification of the small flycatchers of this group is a most difficult problem. In a general way, the Little Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher, Wright's Flycatcher and Gray Flycatcher are so similar as to look almost identical—and all four birds are found in this region. The safest means of identifying the Little Flycatcher is through his habitat and his call notes. As a usual thing, he frequents the stream courses and keeps pretty well hidden from view in the broad leaf trees. He has a variety of calls, but the commonest seems to be a sharp fay-be-o, given at regular intervals from some secluded spot in the top of a tree.

Sparrow size. Adults, dark gray-brown above; dark gray on the sides and breast; two inconspicuous white wing-bars; dark sides separated by a lighter line down the breast and stomach.

ZION. Common summer resident throughout the forested regions. Nests in June and early July.

BRYCE CANYON. Common summer resident throughout the park.

CEDAR BREAKS. Uncommon summer visitant in the forests back of the rim.

A long, slightly nasal pee-ee, repeated with monotonous regularity, is usually the first and best identification of the presence of the Wood Pewee. He is usually seen perched on a bare limb, head restlessly turning back and forth, as he watches for passing insects. As one appears, he dashes out, there is an audible click of the bill, and he returns to his perch, his sharp eyes already searching for another morsel. Sometimes he finds a perch immediately above the water of the streams and catches his meal just above the water surface.

Bluebird size. Adults, very similar in coloration to the Western Wood Pewee; throat white; dark chest patches separated by a thin strip of white running from the throat to the stomach.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident in the higher portions of the park.

BRYCE CANYON. Fairly common summer resident in the forests along the rim toward Rainbow Point.

CEDAR BREAKS. Rare summer visitant in the forests near the rim.

This high mountain flycatcher can be told from the Western Wood Pewee, which it resembles, by its larger size, and by its call notes. High up in a tree in the early morning hours or late in the evening, its clear call contrasts sharply with the nasal notes of the smaller flycatcher. Once heard, its call will never be forgotten or mistaken for some other species. In a lightly questioning manner, he asks "What peeves you?", with the emphasis falling upon the second word. He is an excellent flyer, and overtakes and catches insects with great dexterity, returning immediately to his perch.

Bluebird size. Male, upper parts pinkish-brown; underparts white, shading into pinkish-brown on the flanks; throat yellow; black collar below the yellow throat patch; tail blackish with light edge; forehead yellow, bordered by black; two black tufts of feathers on the side of head. Female, similar to the male, but smaller and less brightly colored.

ZION. Uncommon winter visitant in the canyons. At least two species are known to occur—the Desert Horned Lark (Octoris alpestris leucolaema) and the Utah Horned Lark (Octoris alpestris utahensis). Of these, the latter is believed to be the one most commonly seen.

BRYCE CANYON. Common winter visitant in the open flats near the checking station and back of the canyon rim. Specimens are lacking, but the birds are believed to be utahensis, although leucolaema may also be present.

CEDAR BREAKS. Uncommon winter visitant. Further studies may show this bird is nesting, but evidence is lacking.

This is the familiar brownish bird that is so common along the roadside in the winter months, and which suffers such a high mortality rate from cars. It has a habit of leisurely rising from the ground as the car approaches, and then dashing across the road in front of the machine. Many are killed in this manner. Large flocks range together during the cold months, and their thin, high-pitched call is a cheerful note in the crisp air. Usually the entire group takes off from the ground at about the same time, much after the fashion of sandpipers. The bird walks, instead of hopping from place to place, and is always found on the ground.