Thick-billed Kingbird
Encyclopedia
The Thick-billed Kingbird, Tyrannus crassirostris, is a large bird
in the Tyrannidae family, the tyrant flycatcher
s. This bird breeds from southeastern Arizona
, extreme southwestern New Mexico
, and northern Sonora
, (the Madrean sky islands
), in the United States
and Mexico
, through western and western-coastal Mexico, south to western Guatemala
.
Adults are dusky olive-brown on the upperparts with light underparts; they have a long dark brown or black tail. The underside is a dull white to pale yellow. They have a yellow patch on their crown, but is not visible very often. The bill on this species, for which it is named, is rather large-and-stocky compared to other members of this group and it is one of this kingbird
s most distinguishing characteristics. The call is a loud, whistled "pwaareeet".
Thick-billed Kingbirds usually occur in arid or partly arid areas in streamside riparian canyons, or open areas near water. They are particularly fond of sycamore
woodland edges. They make a nest in a tree branch, usually close to the trunk above 6 meters high. The female lays 3-5 eggs.
These birds are mostly resident in territories year round, but birds in the United States will retreat southward for the winter.
They wait on an open perch usually rather high or on top of the tree and fly out to catch insect
s in flight, (hawking
).
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Tyrannidae family, the tyrant flycatcher
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
s. This bird breeds from southeastern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, extreme southwestern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and northern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, (the Madrean sky islands
Madrean sky islands
The Madrean Sky Islands are enclaves of Madrean pine-oak woodlands, found at higher elevations in a complex of small mountain ranges in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. The sky islands are surrounded at lower elevations by the Sonoran and...
), in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, through western and western-coastal Mexico, south to western Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
Adults are dusky olive-brown on the upperparts with light underparts; they have a long dark brown or black tail. The underside is a dull white to pale yellow. They have a yellow patch on their crown, but is not visible very often. The bill on this species, for which it is named, is rather large-and-stocky compared to other members of this group and it is one of this kingbird
Kingbird
The genus Tyrannus is a group of large insect-eating birds in the Tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. The majority are named as Kingbirds.They prefer semi-open or open areas. These birds wait on an exposed perch and then catch insects in flight...
s most distinguishing characteristics. The call is a loud, whistled "pwaareeet".
Thick-billed Kingbirds usually occur in arid or partly arid areas in streamside riparian canyons, or open areas near water. They are particularly fond of sycamore
Platanus
Platanus is a small genus of trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae....
woodland edges. They make a nest in a tree branch, usually close to the trunk above 6 meters high. The female lays 3-5 eggs.
These birds are mostly resident in territories year round, but birds in the United States will retreat southward for the winter.
They wait on an open perch usually rather high or on top of the tree and fly out to catch insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s in flight, (hawking
Hawking (birds)
Hawking is a feeding strategy in birds involving catching flying insects in the air. The term usually refers to a technique of sallying out from a perch to snatch an insect and then returning to the same or a different perch...
).
External links
- Thick-billed Kingbird videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Thick-billed Kingbird photo gallery VIREO Photo-High Res--(Close-up)