What is the Western Kingbird?
The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) is a large flycatcher found in western North America. It is a migratory bird that breeds in open habitats across western North America and winters in Mexico and Central America.
Some key facts about the Western Kingbird:
- Length: 19-23 cm
- Wingspan: 34-38 cm
- Weight: 33-55 g
- Lifespan: Up to 12 years
The Western Kingbird has a gray head, back, and tail with a yellow belly. It has a concealed red patch on its crown that is visible when it displays. The wings and tail are black with white outer tail feathers. The bill is black and the legs are dark gray.
Males and females look similar but females tend to be slightly duller in color. Juveniles have buff-colored wingbars and a speckled crown and breast.
The Western Kingbird is an aggressive and territorial bird, especially when defending its nest. It is known for attacking much larger birds, even pursuit hawks, that enter its territory.
Habitat and Range
The Western Kingbird inhabits open country across western North America. Its breeding range extends from British Columbia to west Texas. Its wintering range stretches from Arizona south to Panama.
This species nests in grasslands, scrublands, pastures, agricultural fields, riparian areas, and open woodlands. It avoids dense forest but may be found along forest edges. In winter, it occurs in similar open and semi-open habitats.
The Western Kingbird is generally not found in higher elevation mountain regions. It occurs mainly at lower elevations up to 7,000 feet.
Migration
Western Kingbirds are migratory, breeding in North America and wintering in Mexico and Central America. They migrate relatively late in spring and early in fall compared to other flycatchers.
Here are key facts about their migration:
- Spring migration runs from late April to early June.
- Fall migration occurs earlier, from late July to early October.
- Migrates long distances, traveling over 5,000 km between breeding and wintering grounds.
- Migrates during the day, traveling in loose flocks.
- Young birds migrate later, after the adults.
Western Kingbirds fly south to their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. Their winter range centers on Central America from southern Mexico to Panama. Some individuals may wander as far south as Ecuador and Peru.
On the wintering grounds, they inhabit open forests, woodland edges, plantations, fields, and scrublands. They aggressively defend winter territories, though their ranges are larger than on the breeding grounds.
Identifying the Western Kingbird
The Western Kingbird is a large, conspicuous flycatcher. Here are some tips for identification:
- Gray head, back, wings and tail.
- Yellow underparts.
- Black tail with white outer tail feathers visible during flight.
- Red crown patch often visible when displaying.
- Large black bill.
- Upright posture when perched.
- Loud, twittering song.
- Aggressive behavior and aerial attacks on intruders.
The Western Kingbird can be confused with other tyrant flycatchers. Key differences include:
- Cassin’s Kingbird has a darker gray head, greenish back, and smaller bill.
- Western Wood-Pewee is smaller with a shorter bill and subtle wingbars.
- Ash-throated Flycatcher has a gray throat and brownish belly.
Juvenile and fall Western Kingbirds can be harder to identify with their indistinct wingbars and mottled crowns. Look for the large bill and tail pattern combined with upright posture. The call is often the best clue.
Voice and Sounds
The voice of the Western Kingbird is a useful aid for identification. Common vocalizations include:
- Loud, chattering song – a rapid series of twittering notes.
- Harsh, buzzy “zreeep” call.
- High, sharp “petit” calls.
- Rattles and gurgling notes during displays.
The male’s song is used to defend its territory and attract a mate. Both sexes use the “zreeep” call year-round. The frequent, loud vocalizations are a good way to detect Western Kingbirds.
Listen for the loud, twittering song and buzzy “zreeep” call to identify this species by ear. The vocalizations carry far and are often heard before the bird is seen.
Western Kingbird Behavior
The Western Kingbird exhibits some distinctive behaviors:
Aggression and Territoriality
Western Kingbirds are highly territorial and aggressively defend their nesting and feeding areas. They frequently attack much larger birds, even hawks, that intrude on their territory.
They launch aerial attacks, pursuing intruders while vocalizing loudly. This mobbing behavior is used against a wide range of birds including jays, crows, ravens, magpies, hawks, owls, and herons.
They may also attack mammals like squirrels and chipmunks. This aggressive defense helps Western Kingbirds dominate their chosen nesting and feeding territories.
Aerial Foraging
Western Kingbirds forage predominantly by making aerial sallies from an exposed perch. They fly out to snatch insects in mid-air with a loud snap of the bill before returning to the perch.
Common prey includes bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, and beetles. They regularly drink and bathe while foraging over water sources.
In the winter they often forage in small flocks over insects concentrated in flowering trees. This aerial hawk-like foraging behavior is a key field mark of the Western Kingbird.
Displays
Western Kingbirds frequently engage in conspicuous displays on their breeding territories. These displays are used to attract mates, strengthen the pair bond, and defend the territory.
Key display behaviors include:
- Crown displays – male raises and fans out crown feathers revealing the red patch.
- Flight displays – male performs swooping flights low over the female.
- Rattling calls – harsh rattles and gurgling sounds emitted by displaying birds.
Watch for these animated displays used in courtship and aggression throughout the breeding season. The male’s flashing red crown patch is a distinctive sight.
Western Kingbird Nesting
Here are key facts about the Western Kingbird’s breeding biology and nesting behavior:
Nest Site
- Builds an open cup nest in a tree, shrub, or other elevated site.
- Favored nest sites are horizontal branches, utility poles, fences, and human structures.
- Nest height ranges from 3 to 50 feet up.
- Constructs nest from twigs, grass, bark strips, feathers, and other materials.
- Lines nest cup with softer materials like grass, feathers, hair, and plant down.
Eggs
- Clutch size is typically 3-6 eggs.
- Eggs are pale cream to white with brown blotches.
- Female incubates eggs for 14-15 days before hatching.
- May relay if nest fails early in season.
Young
- Both parents feed nestlings with insects.
- Young fledge at 14-19 days old.
- Fledglings are fed and protected by the parents for several weeks.
- First-year birds reach sexual maturity and breed in the following summer.
The female performs most of the nest building while the male defends the territory. Both parents incubate eggs and feed the young. Older nestlings may migrate south later, after the adults leave the breeding grounds.
How to Attract Western Kingbirds
Here are some tips to attract Western Kingbirds to your yard or property:
Provide Open Nesting Sites
Provide elevated, open nesting platforms like:
- Dead snags and treetops
- Fence posts
- Poles
- Human structures like roofs, ledges, signs
Kingbirds often nest 5-15 feet up with a clear flyway to the nest. Place nest platforms away from dense cover and squirrel access.
Offer Insect Sources
Western Kingbirds eat flying insects. Provide insect rich habitats:
- Native flowering plants
- Butterfly gardens
- Vegetable gardens
- Berries
- Fruit trees
- Sprinklers and drippers
Position perches like posts and dead branches near insect sources. Kingbirds hawk for insects from elevated perches.
Supply Open Foraging Space
Western Kingbirds favor open habitats with scattered perches for foraging:
- Mowed fields
- Pastures
- Grasslands
- Orchards
- Agricultural areas
Avoid dense forests. Clear some trees and brush to create open foraging zones bordered by perches.
Add Water Sources
Kingbirds drink and bathe daily while foraging. Provide open water like:
- Birdbaths
- Fountains
- Sprinklers
- Garden ponds
Position water sources near foraging zones and perches for convenient use. Moving water attracts more insect prey.
Reduce Pesticide Use
Kingbirds are vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and bioaccumulation when feeding on sprayed insects. Minimize pesticide use whenever possible.
Key Takeaways on Attracting Western Kingbirds
Here are the main strategies for attracting Western Kingbirds to your property:
- Provide elevated open nesting sites like poles, posts and dead snags.
- Offer insect-rich sources like native plants, gardens, fruit trees.
- Create open foraging areas with perches for flycatching.
- Supply daily water sources for drinking and bathing.
- Minimize pesticide use to provide safe insect prey.
- Protect nests from predators and disturbance.
By meeting these key needs of Western Kingbirds, you can entice them to nest and forage on your property. Enjoy observing their aerial insect-hawking and bold territorial displays throughout spring and summer.
Conclusion
The Western Kingbird is a conspicuous and engaging flycatcher that thrives in open country across western North America. By providing suitable nesting sites, insect prey sources, foraging areas, and water, you can successfully attract this species to yards, gardens, and properties within its range. Taking simple steps to meet the needs of Western Kingbirds will allow you to observe their interesting behaviors and benefit from their vigorous defense against pests and predators. Appreciate the Western Kingbird as a sign of healthy open habitats and biological diversity. With a basic understanding of its natural history, you can find rewarding ways to provide for this beautiful and beneficial flycatcher.
