Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird in worn summer plumage, Tubac, AZ, 16 July 2005.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A conspicuous and aggressive bird of open country, the Western Kingbird is common throughout the western United States and southern Canada. It is often found around human habitation, and frequently uses telephone poles, fence posts, and other man-made structures for nesting.

Description

• Medium-sized songbird.
• Head and chest gray.
• Belly yellow.
• Black square-tipped tail with white outer feathers.

• Size: 20-24 cm (8-9 in)
• Wingspan: 37-40 cm (15-16 in)
• Weight: 37-46 g (1.31-1.62 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike in plumage.

Sound

Song a series of "kip" notes followed by series of high-pitched fussy chittering notes. Common call a sharp "kip" note.

Conservation Status

Widespread and common. No significant nationwide trend, but some local increases and decreases.

Other Names

Tyran de l'Ouest (French)
Madrugador avispero (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The breeding range of the Western Kingbird has been expanding eastward for the last 100 years. It has been associated with tree planting across the Great Plains. It was unknown in Florida until about 1915, but has become a regular winter visitor since then.

• A Western Kingbird pair defends a rather loosely defined territory against other kingbirds. After pairing takes place they defend a smaller and smaller territory. By the middle of incubation the territory is quite small, concentrated primarily on the nest tree and nest.

• The Western Kingbird is regularly noted in the fall along the East Coast, from Newfoundland to Florida. Individuals are seen in some coastal spots every year. Spring records, however, are rare.

Sources used to construct this page:

Gamble, L. R., and T. M. Bergin. 1996. Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis). In The Birds of North America, No. 227 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.