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Photo by Tim Provan
Photo Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S4S5B
External links
General information
The western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis, occurs in western and central North America during its spring and summer breeding season. The species is migratory, with most individuals moving to Central America or the southeastern United States for the winter. The western kingbird is a common breeder throughout Utah, preferring open and semi-open habitats, such as deserts and grasslands.
Western kingbirds nest in trees, bushes, and other raised areas, such as buildings. Interestingly, multiple western kingbird pairs may nest in the same tree. Females generally lay three to five eggs, which hatch in about two weeks; young are attended to by both parents.
The diet of the species is composed primarily of insects, although spiders, fruits, and even small vertebrates may also be consumed. Western kingbirds are active during the day.
Species range
BREEDING: southwestern Canada south to northern Baja California and northwestern mainland of Mexico, and west-central Texas, and east to northwestern Ohio, rarely to north-central Missouri. NON-BREEDING: mainly from Mexico south to Costa Rica, and in small numbers in coastal southeastern U.S.
Migration
Arrives on nesting grounds in U.S. late March through May (Terres 1980).
Habitat
Open and partly open country, especially savanna, agricultural lands, and areas with scattered trees (AOU 1983), also desert. In western Nebraska, used habitat types have large, widely spaced cottonwood trees with abundant grass cover below (Bergin 1992). BREEDING: Nests in trees (usually out on a limb, sometimes near trunk); may also nest on shrubs, fence posts, or buildings. Nest usually about 4.5-9 m from ground. In Nebraska, nests in larger, taller trees with more available perches (Bergin 1992).
Food habits
Primarily insectivorous; feeds on wasps, beetles, moths, caterpillars, grasshoppers, true bugs. Also eats spiders, millipedes, and some fruit. May occasionally take tree frogs (Terres 1980). Catches insects in the air or on the ground.
Ecology
May drive hawks, crows, and jays away from nest. Foraging range at least 400 meters from nest (Hespenheide 1964).
Reproductive characteristics
Clutch size 3-5 (often 4). Incubation 12-14 days. Nestlings tended by both parents. Two or more pairs may nest in same tree.
References
- Biotics Database. 2005. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, NatureServe, and the network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers.
- Peterson, R. T., and V. M. Peterson. 1990. A field guide to western birds, 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 432 pp.
