Couch's Kingbird

Couch's Kingbird is a large tropical flycatcher found in the United States only in the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, where it replaces the very similar Tropical Kingbird. It shares the same gray head, olive back, notched blackish tail, and bright yellow belly, making the two species essentially impossible to separate by sight alone.

Named for naturalist Darius Nash Couch, this kingbird favors semi-open woodland edges, resacas (oxbow lakes), and scrubby thickets, where it perches prominently while hunting insects.

Key field marks

• Gray head, olive-green back, bright yellow belly
• Notched blackish tail
• Large flycatcher with a fairly heavy bill

Similar species

• Tropical Kingbird: essentially identical in plumage; distinguished chiefly by voice (Tropical gives a rapid even trill, Couch's gives a sharp "kip" and burry "breeer") and by slightly different bill proportions.
• Western Kingbird: square, white-edged tail rather than notched blackish tail.
• Cassin's Kingbird: grayer overall with a less deeply notched tail.

Range and habitat

Couch's Kingbird occurs from south Texas south through eastern Mexico to Belize and Guatemala. In the US it is largely confined to the lower Rio Grande Valley, where it uses woodland edges, resacas, ranchland with scattered trees, and increasingly, suburban areas with tall trees.

Migration

Mostly resident, though some individuals wander north or east outside the breeding season, occasionally turning up well outside the core range in fall and winter.

Behavior

Like other kingbirds, Couch's perches conspicuously and sallies out after flying insects, returning to the same or a nearby perch.

Voice

The most reliable way to separate this species from Tropical Kingbird: a sharp "kip" note and a distinctive rolling, burry "breeer" or "kip-kip-kididear."

Feeding

Primarily flying insects taken by flycatching; also eats berries and small fruit.

Nesting and breeding

Builds a bulky twig-and-grass cup nest on a horizontal branch, often well concealed in foliage. The female incubates 3-5 eggs, and both adults defend the nest aggressively.