Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyTyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
- GenusTyrannus (Kingbirds)
- SpeciesTyrannus tyrannus (Eastern Kingbird)
About the Eastern Kingbird
The eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) is a large tyrant flycatcher native to the Americas. The bird is predominantly dark gray with white underbelly and pointed wings. Eastern kingbirds are conspicuous and are commonly found in open areas with scattered trees and bushes, where they perch while foraging for insects. The Eastern kingbird is migratory, with its breeding range spread across North America and its wintering range in Central and South America.
The eastern kingbird was described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name of Lanius tyrannus. The present genus Tyrannus was introduced in 1799 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with the eastern kingbird as the type species. The species is monotypic; no subspecies are recognised.
Adults are grey-black on the upperparts with light underparts; they have a long black tail with a white end and long, pointed wings. They have a red patch on their crown, seldom seen. They are of average size for a kingbird, at 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in), 33–38 cm (13–15 in) across the wings and weighing 33–55 g (1.2–1.9 oz).
The call... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Chagres National Park
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus savana
Guatemalan Paltry Tyrannulet
Zimmerius vilissimus
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant
Lophotriccus pileatus
Streaked Flycatcher
Myiodynastes maculatus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Myiarchus tuberculifer
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Elaenia flavogaster
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Camptostoma obsoletum
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virens
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Mionectes oleagineus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eastern Kingbird in Chagres National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Kingbird sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 34 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eastern Kingbird in Chagres National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Eastern Kingbird in Chagres National Park in our monthly data.