Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
The most common and recognizable kingbird of the West, the Western Kingbird has adapted well to it’s ever changing habitat by taking advantage of telephone poles and other man-made structures for nesting and utility wires and fences as hunting perches.
Like other tyrant flycatchers, the Western Flycatcher often uses acrobatic flying maneuvers to fly out from his perch, snatch insects out of the air or from the ground returning back to the same spot. It is the most social of all kingbirds and has been known to nest in a tree with 2 or more other pairs in urban settings. Yet, the Western Kingbird also has the reputation of being aggressive and tenacious as it will chase hawks, crows, ravens and other large birds from its nesting territory without hesitation.
Description: The Western Kingbird has a pale gray head and breast, small dark bill, whitish throat and breast, yellowish belly, olive-greenish back and a black squared tail with white side edges.
Length: 8.75 inches
Wingspan: 15.5 inches
Weight: 1.4 oz
Voice: High, shrill, squeaky, bickering call
Similar Species:
- Eastern Kingbird – Smaller with narrower wings and a white band across the tip of the tail.
- Great Crested Flycatcher - Larger bird, more distinct break between the gray head and brighter yellow belly, much larger bill, brown/cinnamon tail feathers
Habitat: Variety of semiarid open habitats such as pastures, farms, fields, roadsides, fences and wires.
Diet: Insects
Nesting and reproduction: There are no known records of this species nesting in Tennessee.
Status in Tennessee: The Western Kingbird is a rare migrant and breeding bird in west Tennessee.
Dynamic map of Western Kingbird eBird observations in Tennessee
Fun Facts:
- Associated with the planting of trees across the Plains during the last 100 years, the breeding ranges for the Western Kingbird have been ever expanding eastward.
Obsolete English Names: Arkansas Kingbird
Best places to see in Tennessee: Memphis, President’s Island, Ensley Complex
Sources:
Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.
Alsop, F.J, 2001, Birds of North America, DK Publishing, New York, NY
Consider using the online bird checklist program at eBird to help us understand bird populations and distributions in Tennessee. Click here to see how.
