Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
The Western Kingbird is a common and conspicuous summer resident across much of Oregon, especially in open country. These are bold and aggressive flycatchers, well-known for chasing much larger birds away from their nesting territories.
When it comes to telling males and females apart, the Western Kingbird offers a common challenge among many bird species: male and female Western Kingbirds are virtually identical in plumage and size. There are no reliable visual cues to distinguish between the sexes in the field.
General Characteristics (Both Sexes)
Size: A relatively large and hefty flycatcher, about the size of an American Robin, typically 7.9-9.4 inches (20-24 cm) long with a wingspan of 15-16 inches (38-41 cm). They have a large head and broad shoulders.
Coloration:
Head and Breast: Ashy gray head and upper breast, blending into a whitish throat.
Back and Wings: The back is a contrasting olive-greenish color, and the wings are brownish-black.
Belly: Their most striking feature is a bright lemon-yellow belly and undertail coverts. This yellow is vibrant and extends well up the belly.
Tail: The tail is black, with a distinctive and often conspicuous white outer edge on the tail feathers, which is particularly visible in flight. The tail is square-tipped.
Crown Patch: Both sexes possess a small, often hidden, orange-red central crown patch (feathers on the top of the head). This patch is usually concealed by the gray crown feathers but can be briefly flared during aggressive displays or courtship.
Bill: A sturdy, straight, and black bill.
Behavior:
Perching: They are highly visible, preferring exposed perches like utility wires, fence posts, tall trees (especially snags), or the tops of shrubs in open areas. From these perches, they sally out to capture flying insects.
Flycatching: They are expert aerial insectivores, catching a wide variety of insects, including bees, wasps, beetles, and grasshoppers, often returning to the same perch. They may also hover briefly.
Aggression: Known for their feisty nature, they will aggressively chase away larger birds, including hawks, crows, and even humans, that approach their nest or territory. They will snap their bills and raise their hidden crown feathers when provoked.
Vocalization: They have a distinctive, often harsh and squeaky call that can be described as a rapid and rising shrill, like "widik pik widi pik pik" or a "kip" series. Their song is often a series of squeaky, descending notes.
Male Western Kingbird in Oregon
Plumage: Virtually identical to the female. There are no consistent differences in coloration or markings that allow for visual sexing in the field.
Size: Males and females are similar in size.
Display: Males perform specific courtship flight displays, taking off upwards into the air, fluttering, and vibrating their feathers while giving a trilling song. During aggressive territorial displays, they may also flash their hidden red crown patch.
Female Western Kingbird in Oregon
Plumage: Virtually identical to the male.
Size: Females and males are similar in size.
Nesting: Both sexes contribute to nest building, though the female does most of the incubation (about 18-19 days). Nests are typically cup-shaped, made of grasses, weeds, and twigs, and lined with finer materials. They are often built in a tree fork on a horizontal limb, 15-30 feet above the ground. They readily use human-made structures like utility poles, building ledges, or even abandoned nests of other birds. Both parents feed the young.
Habitat in Oregon
Western Kingbirds are common summer residents in the more open, eastern two-thirds of Oregon, and in open valleys in southwestern Oregon (like the Rogue and Umpqua valleys). Their preferred habitats include:
Grasslands and prairies
Sagebrush flats and desert shrublands
Agricultural areas (farms, pastures, croplands)
Open woodlands (especially those with scattered trees)
Roadsides (where they often perch on wires)
Urban and suburban areas (especially where trees and open spaces are available, and they can utilize artificial structures for nesting).
When it comes to telling males and females apart, the Western Kingbird offers a common challenge among many bird species: male and female Western Kingbirds are virtually identical in plumage and size. There are no reliable visual cues to distinguish between the sexes in the field.
General Characteristics (Both Sexes)
Size: A relatively large and hefty flycatcher, about the size of an American Robin, typically 7.9-9.4 inches (20-24 cm) long with a wingspan of 15-16 inches (38-41 cm). They have a large head and broad shoulders.
Coloration:
Head and Breast: Ashy gray head and upper breast, blending into a whitish throat.
Back and Wings: The back is a contrasting olive-greenish color, and the wings are brownish-black.
Belly: Their most striking feature is a bright lemon-yellow belly and undertail coverts. This yellow is vibrant and extends well up the belly.
Tail: The tail is black, with a distinctive and often conspicuous white outer edge on the tail feathers, which is particularly visible in flight. The tail is square-tipped.
Crown Patch: Both sexes possess a small, often hidden, orange-red central crown patch (feathers on the top of the head). This patch is usually concealed by the gray crown feathers but can be briefly flared during aggressive displays or courtship.
Bill: A sturdy, straight, and black bill.
Behavior:
Perching: They are highly visible, preferring exposed perches like utility wires, fence posts, tall trees (especially snags), or the tops of shrubs in open areas. From these perches, they sally out to capture flying insects.
Flycatching: They are expert aerial insectivores, catching a wide variety of insects, including bees, wasps, beetles, and grasshoppers, often returning to the same perch. They may also hover briefly.
Aggression: Known for their feisty nature, they will aggressively chase away larger birds, including hawks, crows, and even humans, that approach their nest or territory. They will snap their bills and raise their hidden crown feathers when provoked.
Vocalization: They have a distinctive, often harsh and squeaky call that can be described as a rapid and rising shrill, like "widik pik widi pik pik" or a "kip" series. Their song is often a series of squeaky, descending notes.
Male Western Kingbird in Oregon
Plumage: Virtually identical to the female. There are no consistent differences in coloration or markings that allow for visual sexing in the field.
Size: Males and females are similar in size.
Display: Males perform specific courtship flight displays, taking off upwards into the air, fluttering, and vibrating their feathers while giving a trilling song. During aggressive territorial displays, they may also flash their hidden red crown patch.
Female Western Kingbird in Oregon
Plumage: Virtually identical to the male.
Size: Females and males are similar in size.
Nesting: Both sexes contribute to nest building, though the female does most of the incubation (about 18-19 days). Nests are typically cup-shaped, made of grasses, weeds, and twigs, and lined with finer materials. They are often built in a tree fork on a horizontal limb, 15-30 feet above the ground. They readily use human-made structures like utility poles, building ledges, or even abandoned nests of other birds. Both parents feed the young.
Habitat in Oregon
Western Kingbirds are common summer residents in the more open, eastern two-thirds of Oregon, and in open valleys in southwestern Oregon (like the Rogue and Umpqua valleys). Their preferred habitats include:
Grasslands and prairies
Sagebrush flats and desert shrublands
Agricultural areas (farms, pastures, croplands)
Open woodlands (especially those with scattered trees)
Roadsides (where they often perch on wires)
Urban and suburban areas (especially where trees and open spaces are available, and they can utilize artificial structures for nesting).