[AlainaLee]

There has been some question over whether this is actually a western Kingbird or a vagrant (Tropical i think was debated).. was wondering if i could get an opionion either way?
thank you for any help!

[Silverwolf]

That is quite an interesting kingbird. The yellow is very extensive (however your first image indicates a grey breast which is good for Western not Tropical), and the back is greenish. Bill is kind of inbetween, so this isn't that good of a factor (but it seems on the hefty side).

Can't tell if the tail is long and fish-tail-like (a good Tropical feature) from this angle.

[AlainaLee]

which explains the problem we are having trying to decide what he is exactly.. lol.. wish i had more pix, but a crop dusting plane flew overhead and startled both me and him..

[Silverwolf]

Originally Posted by AlainaLee

which explains the problem we are having trying to decide what he is exactly.. lol.. wish i had more pix, but a crop dusting plane flew overhead and startled both me and him..

Yeah, hopefully I/we can get more input.

I've personally never seen Tropical or Western so my thoughts are all tied to the field guides and pictures on the internet.
But the way the green on the back and scapulars is kind of mixed in with grey almost makes me think hybrid (but that answer would be the easy way out, wouldn't it!).

[AlainaLee]

this is what most of our western kingbirds look like.. no sign of yellow on the back..

[Microtus]

It does look like a Tropical/Couch's, with the green back, browner wings, more dark around the eye, and seemingly more extensive yellow on the underparts. Did you hear it call? Has anybody been back to that area to see if it's still there?

[Motmot]

The moderate sized bill, longish primary projection and blackish looking tail/upper tail coverts look best for Western Kingbird to me.

[AlainaLee]

this was actually right in front of my house.. he was there for two days ( i only saw him the one), but as i said, i had just poked my head outside, and a crop duster flew over... i looked up, and hed flown away

[Chris Benesh]

Hi All,

These pictures are a bit underexposed and color saturated which accentuate greens somewhat. There are few features visible in the photos that support a Western Kingbird ID. The primary projection is very long (good for Western, bad to Tropical and Couch's), and the shape of the primaries themselves (being sable-shaped) is diagnostic for Western. The wing coverts are rather plain and unpatterned. The tail appears black, clearly darker than the wings (wings and tail the same color in Tropical and Couch's). Also the white on the throat is really restricted (more extensive on Tropical and Couch's).

Chris

[Jeff hopkins]

It seems like the concensus here is western (and I do agree it doesn't feel like a TK/Couch's), but the throat in the one picture where it shows looks fairly dark to me.

I'm certainly not an expert like the others, so can someone explain how Cassin's was excluded?

[Chris Benesh]

Hi Jeff,

The lack of pale edging to the wing coverts and the long, pointed (sabre-shaped) primaries should exclude Cassin's. I would also expect sharper contrast between the white chin and jaw stripe from the rest of the face if this were a Cassin's, instead of it appearing blended as it does here. I think that the apparent darkness of the head is the result of the photo being a bit underexposed.

Chris

[AlainaLee]

Dang i really thought i had something different this time!!
thanks for explaining it all Chris! appreciate it!

[Jeff hopkins]

Originally Posted by Chris Benesh

Hi Jeff,

The lack of pale edging to the wing coverts and the long, pointed (sabre-shaped) primaries should exclude Cassin's. I would also expect sharper contrast between the white chin and jaw stripe from the rest of the face if this were a Cassin's, instead of it appearing blended as it does here. I think that the apparent darkness of the head is the result of the photo being a bit underexposed.

Chris

Thanks for the explanation, Chris. Always good to learn new tricks.