Tropical Kingbird

The Tropical Kingbird is one of the most familiar and widespread flycatchers of the American tropics, ranging from the southernmost United States all the way to Argentina. It has a pale gray head with a darker mask through the eye, an olive-green back, and a bright lemon-yellow belly. The tail is notably notched (forked) and blackish-brown.

In the US it reaches its northern limit in south Texas and southeastern Arizona, where it perches conspicuously on wires and treetops in open, scrubby habitat, sallying out after insects.

Key field marks

• Gray head with a dusky mask, olive-green back
• Bright yellow belly
• Notched (forked) blackish tail
• Fairly large, heavy bill

Similar species

• Couch's Kingbird: virtually identical in plumage; the two are best separated by voice—Tropical Kingbird gives a rapid, evenly pitched twittering trill, while Couch's gives a sharp "kip" and a burry "breeer."
• Western Kingbird: square-tipped (not notched) tail with white outer edges, paler head.
• Cassin's Kingbird: grayer, less deeply notched tail with only a faint pale tip.

Range and habitat

Tropical Kingbird breeds from south Texas and southeastern Arizona south through Mexico, Central America, and much of South America to central Argentina—one of the broadest ranges of any New World flycatcher. It favors open habitats with scattered trees or utility lines: farmland edges, savanna, riverine growth, and even town parks and gardens.

Migration

US breeders are migratory, wintering in Mexico, but tropical populations are largely resident year-round.

Behavior

Tropical Kingbirds perch in the open—often on a wire, dead snag, or treetop—and sally out to catch flying insects, sometimes hovering briefly before returning to a perch.

Voice

The song and calls are a rapid, twittering series of high, thin notes, often rendered as "pip-pip-pip-pip-pipipipip"—an important clue for separating it from the nearly identical Couch's Kingbird.

Feeding

Mainly aerial insects, taken by flycatching sallies; they also eat berries and small fruit, especially outside the breeding season.

Nesting and breeding

The shallow cup nest of twigs and grass is placed on a horizontal branch, often over water or in an isolated tree. The female incubates 2-4 eggs; both parents defend the nest vigorously against intruders.