- Tyrannus vociferans
Identification
20·5–23 cm (8-9 in)
Adults have a gray head with slightly darker cheeks; a dark unforked tail with a buffy fringe and gray-olive underparts. They have a pale throat and yellow lower breast.
Juveniles are duller and have pale edges on their wings.
Distribution
Breeds from southern California east to extreme southern Utah and Wyoming; extreme western Texas south through central Mexico.
Winters from Southern California south along western Mexico and Baja California to Honduras.
Accidental vagrant in the eastern United States and north of range. Casual vagrant to most of Texas.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are two subspecies1:
- T. v. vociferans:
- T. v. xenopterus
- Highlands of south-western Mexico (Guerrero)
Habitat
Similar to Eastern Kingbird. Prefers dry open areas with scattered trees or powerlines, savanna.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet consists mostly of insects and fruit. Occasionally small rodents are eaten too.
Vocalisation
Call is a high-pitched shorter followed by a longer chirp, sounding like a 'chi-beer'.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Cassin's Kingbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cassin%27s_Kingbird
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
