Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyTyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
- GenusTyrannus (Kingbirds)
- SpeciesTyrannus melancholicus (Tropical Kingbird)
About the Tropical Kingbird
The tropical kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) is a large tyrant flycatcher. This bird breeds from southern Arizona and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States through Central America, South America as far as south as central Argentina and eastern Peru, and on Trinidad and Tobago. Birds from the northernmost and southern breeding areas migrate to warmer parts of the range after breeding.
The tropical kingbird was formally described in 1819 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot under the binomial name Tyrannus melancholicus. Vieillot based his description on the Suirirí-Guazú that had been described by the Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara in 1805 in his book Apuntamientos para la historia natural de los páxaros del Paragüay y Rio de la Plata. The specific epithet is Latin meaning "melancholic" (that is "bad-tempered").
Three subspecies are recognised: T. m. satrapa (Cabanis & Heine, 1860) – southwest USA to north Colombia, north Venezuela and Trinidad T. m. despotes (Lichtenstein, MHK, 1823) – northeast Brazil T. m. melancholicus Vieillot, 1819 – north South America to central Argentina
An adult tropical kingbird is 22... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Tropical Kingbird in Manuel Antonio National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Manuel Antonio National Park
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Tyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus forficatus
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Streaked Flycatcher
Myiodynastes maculatus
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Megarynchus pitangua
Great Crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus
Bright-rumped Attila
Attila spadiceus
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum cinereum
Piratic Flycatcher
Legatus leucophaius
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Elaenia flavogaster
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Tropical Kingbird in Manuel Antonio National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Tropical Kingbird sighting in Manuel Antonio National Park, based on 1,086 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tropical Kingbird in Manuel Antonio National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Tropical Kingbird in Manuel Antonio National Park in our monthly data.