Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus

Migratory Status: Neotropical migrant

PIF Population Estimate: 13 000 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: <25%

BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 87.73

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 125

Canadian BBS Population trend: -1.7 (-2.6 to -0.7)

Life History

The Eastern Kingbird has the most extensive breeding range of all North American flycatchers. The species breeds across eastern United States and northwest to Washington, across southern Canada and north through the prairie provinces to the southern Mackenzie valley. Species abundance varies greatly across its range with the greatest densities occurring in the southeastern and mid-western states and the southern Canadian prairies.

Adults are similar in appearance. Both sexes are medium-sized flycatchers with contrasting black upperparts and white underparts. The head is black and has a slightly crested appearance, particularly in males or when the birds are agitated. The crown has a concealed patch of feathers rarely visible, which varies in colour from yellow to red among individuals. The upper chest is white and marked by dull grayish band, while the tail is black with a distinctive white band at its tip. The Eastern Kingbird song is a high, buzzy sputtered “t’tzeetzeetzee” that is often repeated, while its calls are high-pitched, short, crisp notes.

Eastern Kingbirds breed in open habitats, usually in farmland with scattered shrubs and trees, orchards, shelterbelts, beaver ponds, woodland and riparian edges, and urban areas. Nest sites may be selected near water, often in dense trees overhanging water or in dead, standing snags in wet areas. Kingbirds forage mostly by “fly-catching” from exposed perches and may hover in the absence of perching structures. Flying insects are their most common prey, although they also take insects from vegetation, the ground, and at times from the surface of water.

Eastern Kingbirds are well known for their aggressive behavior. Predators, humans, or other kingbirds are readily driven-off with persistent aerial dive-bombs. Adults are known to “ride” the backs of flying crows and hawks while stabbing or pecking at the trespasser with their beaks. Pairs are mostly monogamous, but occasionally have multiple mates. If both adults survive to the following breeding season, they usually reform their pair bond upon returning to the previous year’s territory. Males generally have a stronger fidelity to breeding sites than females.

Reference(s)

Murphy, M. T. 1996. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), The Birds of North America Online, . A. Poole, Ed. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North America Online database: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/253