This week I wanted to introduce you to the Eastern Kingbird. Kingbirds are regal-looking birds with a black cap and grey back. The easiest way to ID them in the field is to look for the white bar across the tip of their tail. They are members of the flycatcher family and are extremely agile in the air swooping after and catching flying insects.
Their Latin name is Tyrannus tyrannus; they look regal however they are not benevolent! Kingbirds are a little bit smaller than a robin yet they are known to be extremely aggressive towards intruders. They will viciously and relentlessly attack larger birds such as ravens hawks and even great blue herons that pass too close to their territory.
A couple of things I recently learned about Eastern Kingbirds is that they have a “crown” of yellow, orange or red feathers that is not usually visible. You may have an opportunity to glimpse the crown of a kingbird if you ever get too close to their nesting site as they will raise these feathers and open their wide red mouth to dive bomb you until you leave. Whether you choose to experience that is up to you!
This bird is one of the main reasons I developed an interest in birding and was the first deceased animal that I ever photographed. Those very first photos were the beginning of my life-long fine art photography project memorializing animals killed as a result of interactions with humans and their activity.
Next time you are out near a marsh or a small lake keep your eyes open for an Eastern kingbird perched in the reeds or branches near the water. You may be rewarded, or punished!