Gray kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis

Identification Tips:

• Length: 7.5 inches
• Large head
• Often feeds by flying out to catch insects and then returning to the same perch
• Often perches in an exposed location: for example, a telephone line or a dead branch
• Frequents mangroves in Florida

Adult:

• Dark, forked tail
• Dark cheeks
• Gray upperparts
• Whitish underparts
• Reddish crown patch rarely visible

Juvenile:

• Upperparts browner than adult

Similar species:

The Gray Kingbird is somewhat similar to the Eastern Kingbird but has a forked tail and lacks a white terminal tail band. The rare stray Loggerhead Kingbird is very similar but has a dark head and lacks the dark cheeks of the Gray Kingbird.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.