Eastern Kingbird    Tyrannus tyrannus

Conservation Status

General Status in Canada : Secure

COSEWIC Status : Not assessed

Breeding Bird Surveys indicate North American populations have changed little between 1966 and 2007 and populations are thought to be relatively stable. Recent population declines in eastern United States may be a result of reduced habitat due to the loss of small farms, increased forest succession and greater human development. The largest cause of direct, human-induced mortality is probably collisions with automobiles. Kingbirds often nest and forage along roadsides where collisions with cars are not uncommon. Pesticide use may cause egg and nestling mortality, although reports are unsubstantiated. Eastern Kingbirds winter in Amazonia where loss of tropical habitat does not yet appear to have negatively impacted populations, probably due in part to their preference of open habitats.

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