Western kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
Identification Tips:
- Length: 7 inches
- Large head and bill
- Frequents open habitats
- Often seen perched on fences
Adult:
- Dark, unforked tail with white outer tail feathers
- Pale gray head with dark eyeline
- Grayish-olive upperparts
- Pale throat and upper breast
- Pale yellow lower breast to undertail coverts
Juvenile:
- Plumage somewhat duller than adult
- Pale edges to wings
Similar species:
The Western Kingbird is similar to several other species of kingbirds:
Tropical and Couch's Kingbirds have forked tails and dark cheeks, 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 Great Crested Flycatchers are somewhat similar
but have darker, browner crowns and brown and rusty tails (Western's is black
and white).
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.