Cassin’s Kingbird
Cassin's Kingbird
Tyrannus vociferans
At a Glance
As suggested by its scientific name vociferans, Cassin's is our noisiest kingbird (except for the very localized Thick-billed). Possibly it has more need for vocal communication because it lives in denser habitat than most. Males have a strident 'dawn song,' a rising berg-berg-berg-BERG, often heard at first light but rarely later in the day, sometimes confused with song of Buff-collared Nightjar. Where present in numbers (as on wintering grounds in Mexico), flocks may gather to roost in large concentrations.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Perching Birds, Tyrant Flycatchers
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Arroyos and Canyons, Desert and Arid Habitats, Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Region
California, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Texas
Behavior
Direct Flight, Hovering
Population
8.800.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Often lingers later in fall than other kingbirds. South of United States, may migrate in large flocks.
Description
8-9" (20-23 cm). Like Western Kingbird, but darker gray head and chest contrast more with white chin. Tail has pale tip, but only faint white edges. Bill larger, wings have more obvious scaly pattern.
Size
About the size of a Robin
Color
Black, Brown, Gray, Green, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Rounded
Tail Shape
Notched, Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
A loud chi-beer! and a rapid chi-beer, ch-beer-beer-beer-r-r.
Call Pattern
Falling, Flat, Undulating
Call Type
Buzz, Chirp/Chip, Scream, Whistle
Habitat
Semi-open high country, pine-oak mountains, groves. In breeding season favors more wooded habitat than most kingbirds, and ranges to higher elevations, although in places it overlaps with Western Kingbird. Nests in open pine forest, pinyon-juniper woodland, oak woodland, and streamside trees; at lower elevation may nest in groves of eucalyptus. During migration and winter can be found in more open habitats.
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Behavior
Eggs
3-4, up to 5. Creamy white with brownish mottling, markings often concentrated near large end. Incubation is by female, about 18 days.
Young
Both parents feed nestlings. Young leave the nest after 14-17 days. Usually 1 brood per year, may raise 2 in southern part of range.
Feeding Behavior
From a perch in a tree or on an exposed wire, flies out to capture flying insects in mid-air. May also fly out and hover while picking insects or other arthropods from leaves or from the ground.
Diet
Mostly insects, some berries. Feeds on a wide variety of insects, including wasps, beetles, caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers, true bugs, flies, and many others, as well as some spiders. Also eats some berries and fruits, more than most flycatchers.
Nesting
Male has a fast zigzag courtship flight. Members of pair may perch together in nest tree, calling and quivering wings. Adults actively harass larger birds (such as ravens and hawks) in vicinity of nest, but may tolerate other species of kingbirds nearby. Nest site is in a large tree such as sycamore, cottonwood, oak, or pine, placed on a horizontal or near-horizontal branch, often well out from the trunk. Usually 20-50' above the ground but occasionally lower and sometimes much higher. Nest is a bulky cup of twigs, weed stems, rootlets, leaves, feathers, hair, and debris, lined with finer plant fibers and other material.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Still widespread and common.
Climate Threats Facing the Cassin's Kingbird
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