How to Identify aEastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus · 7.5–9.1 in (19–23 cm)
Male vs. female
Male
Blackish above and clean white below, with a squared black tail tipped in a broad white band. Sexes look alike.
Female
Identical to the male in the field.
Male photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Second photo: P0cketriki / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Field marks
- Broad white band across the tip of a black tail
- Clean white underparts with no yellow
- Very upright posture on exposed perches
- Dark head appearing almost hooded
Similar species
What it sounds like
A high, electric, sputtering series of buzzy "kit-kit-kitter" notes, more like static than a song.
Behaviour that gives it away
Aggressively drives crows, hawks and even herons out of its territory, often landing on their backs in flight.
Habitat & range
Fields, orchards, marsh edges and roadsides with scattered perches, across most of North America in summer.
When you'll see it
A summer visitor that arrives to breed in North America.
What it eats
Flying insects taken on sallies from a perch, plus fruit on the wintering grounds.
Did you know?
Its scientific name Tyrannus tyrannus means "tyrant of tyrants", earned by its habit of attacking birds many times its size.
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