Couch's Kingbird
Tyrannus couchii
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyTyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
- GenusTyrannus (Kingbirds)
- SpeciesTyrannus couchii (Couch's Kingbird)
About the Couch's Kingbird
Couch's kingbird (Tyrannus couchii) is a passerine tyrant flycatcher of the kingbird genus. It is found from southern Texas along the Gulf Coast to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, Belize and northern Guatemala. It is also found in the lower stretches of the Rio Grande Valley.
The species is named after soldier and naturalist Darius N. Couch. Couch's kingbird is about 7 inches long. It has a large head and bill. It has a dark, forked tail. The head is pale gray with contrasting darker cheeks. The upperparts are grayish-olive. It has a pale throat and a darker breast. The lower breast is bright yellow. Juveniles have browner underparts than the adult and pale edges to their wings.
Couch's kingbird can easily be confused with the related tropical kingbird (T. melancholicus), which is extremely similar. In fact, Couch's kingbird was considered conspecific with the tropical kingbird until 1979. The easiest way to distinguish between the two species is to listen for their call: Couch's kingbird has a raspier, more complex call that is more varied in pitch. In addition, Couch's kingbird lives in a more wooded environment than the tropical kingbird... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Couch's Kingbird in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus savana
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus forficatus
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Myiarchus tuberculifer
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Northern Bentbill
Oncostoma cinereigulare
Bright-rumped Attila
Attila spadiceus
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Greenish Elaenia
Myiopagis viridicata
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Celestún Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Calakmul Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Tikal National Park | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 5 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Biotopo Cerro Cahuí | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 8 | Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇧🇿 Belize | |
| 9 | Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Couch's Kingbird in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Couch's Kingbird sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 83 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Couch's Kingbird in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
March has the highest sighting rate for Couch's Kingbird in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in our monthly data.