Great Kiskadee

The Great Kiskadee is one of the largest and most conspicuous flycatchers in the Americas, instantly recognizable by its bold head pattern: a black-and-white striped face topped with a hidden yellow crown patch (usually concealed unless the bird is excited). The back is brown, the wings and tail show rich rufous edging, and the underparts are a bright sulfur yellow. The bill is thick and black.

Unlike most flycatchers, kiskadees are true omnivores, taking everything from flying insects to small fish, lizards, and fruit, and they are frequently found near ponds, rivers, and resacas.

Key field marks

• Bold black-and-white striped head with a partly hidden yellow crown patch
• Brown back with rufous-edged wings and tail
• Bright yellow underparts
• Heavy black bill

Similar species

• No other flycatcher in its US range shares this striking head pattern; the combination of size, head stripes, and yellow underparts is diagnostic.
• Boat-billed Flycatcher (found farther south in the tropics) is similar but has an even larger, flatter bill and lacks rufous in the wings.

Range and habitat

Great Kiskadee ranges from south Texas through Mexico, Central America, and much of South America. It favors open woodland edges, riparian growth, farmland with scattered trees, and especially areas near ponds, rivers, and resacas.

Migration

Largely non-migratory; US populations in south Texas are year-round residents, and the species has slowly expanded its range northward over recent decades.

Behavior

Kiskadees are bold, noisy, and conspicuous, often perching in the open on wires, fence posts, or bare branches. They hunt with dramatic sallies, sometimes plunging into shallow water to snatch small fish or diving to the ground for insects and lizards.

Voice

A loud, ringing "kis-ka-dee" call (also rendered "bien-te-veo" in Spanish-speaking areas), given frequently and giving the bird its name.

Feeding

True omnivores: large insects, small fish caught by shallow plunge-diving, lizards, small rodents, and a good deal of berries and fruit.

Nesting and breeding

Builds a large, messy, domed nest with a side entrance, placed in a tree, often near water or even on utility poles. The female incubates 2-5 eggs for about 2 weeks.