Tropical kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 7? inches
• Large head and bill
• Range in United States mostly restricted to southeastern Arizona

Adult:

• Dark, forked tail
• Pale gray head with contrasting darker cheeks
• Grayish-olive upperparts
• Pale throat and darker breast
• Bright yellow lower breast to undertail coverts

Juvenile:

• Upperparts browner than adult
• Pale edges to wings

Similar species:

The Tropical Kingbird is most similar to the Couch's Kingbird and can best be identified by its different calls. Western and Cassin's Kingbirds are similar but lack dark cheeks and have less-forked tails. Cassin's Kingbird has a darker breast. Western Kingbird has white outer tail feathers. Thick-billed Kingbird usually has whiter underparts and has a darker head. Brown-crested, Ash-throated and Dusky-capped Flycatchers are somewhat similar but have darker, browner crowns and unforked tails.

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