Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird on Barbed Wire
A Western Kingbird perches on a barbed-wire fence along a dirt road near the Whitewater Draw wildlife conservation area in the Sulphur Springs valley. It is in a very remote, dusty part of Southern Arizona.

Western Kingbird Photos

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Western Kingbird 1 ...

Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
Identification Tips:
Length: 7 inches
Large head and bill
Frequents open habitats
Often seen perched on fences ...

Western Kingbird
Relatives in same Genus
Eastern Kingbird (T. tyrannus) ...

Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) breeds over the western half of the United States. The bird shown here was a spring migrant at South Padre Island, Cameron Co.

Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis Say
Status Uncommon vagrant. The first record of this species was of one rescued from a cat at Lower West Pubnico, Yarmouth County, on 26 October 1935 (I.J. Pothier).

6. Western Kingbird, Los Alamitos
7. Whimbrel and Dunlin, Hunters Point, SF
8. Male Surf Scoter, Foster City, San Mateo County ...

Western Kingbird has lighter gray head, back and breast; less contrasting white chin, and white outer tail feathers.
Tropical and Couch's kingbirds have yellower chest, larger bill, and no white in tail.

Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis. Uncommon to rare in fall, and rare in winter, spring, and summer in Gulf Coast region. In other regions, occasional in spring and fall. Found in open country with scattered trees, especially agricultural lands.

Western Kingbird
Wolf
Weasel
Weasels are mammals of the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs.

Western Kingbird
Fall Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no
Belted Kingfisher
Fall Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no ...

At the same time, a Western Kingbird challenged its geographical stereotype by exploring some of the easternmost reaches of this continent; I believe this bird is still holding court at the New York Botanical Gardens.

Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
Gray Kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead Kingbird, Tyrannus caudifasciatus
Giant Kingbird, Tyrannus cubensis ...

ARKANSAW FLYCATCHER.
[Western Kingbird.]
MUSCICAPA VERTICALIS, Bonap.
[Tyrannus verticalis.] ...

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are distinctive birds with very long outer tail feathers. The tails of males are longer than females. Juveniles will have very short tails and might be confused with Western Kingbird (rare on the UTC).

At Busby turn right again (south) onto Road 314 and follow it for 26 miles past the Rosebud Battlefield. The good birding starts on road 314 with numerous Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Kestrels and Mountain Bluebirds.

The bird that showed up for the Wings Over Water festival.
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis). Lake Mattamuskeet, Hyde Co., NC 1/18/03. This bird was hunting from the causeway road in the middle of the lake.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) ...

See also: Kingbird, Flycatcher, Perch, Hawk, Sparrow