Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Kingbirds are one of the "tyrant flycatchers", found in not only the Eastern US, but across much of the US. It breeds in fields, prairies, pastures, woodland edges, shelterbelts, and riparian corridors, where it frequently perches conspicuously on fences, trees, and utility wires. The species feeds primarily on flying insects captured in aerial sallies, although it also consumes berries and small fruits, especially late in the season. In South Dakota, Eastern Kingbirds are common summer residents and breeders throughout much of the state. They are famous for their aggressive defense of nesting territories, often chasing hawks, crows, and other much larger birds. After breeding, they migrate to South America, where they spend the winter in tropical and subtropical habitats.

Habitat

The Eastern Kingbird inhabits open and semi-open landscapes such as prairies, grasslands, pastures, agricultural fields, woodland edges, shelterbelts, parks, and riparian corridors. It favors areas with scattered trees, shrubs, fence lines, or utility wires that provide exposed perches for hunting insects. In South Dakota, it is commonly found throughout the state wherever open country is interspersed with trees or shrubs.

Diet

The Eastern Kingbird feeds primarily on flying insects, including beetles, bees, wasps, flies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and moths. It typically captures prey by launching from an exposed perch and catching insects in midair before returning to the same lookout. During late summer and fall, berries and small fruits become an important part of the diet, especially during migration.

Behavior

In addition to capturing flying insects, Eastern Kingbirds will also hover and glean insects from vegetation foliage and other surfaces. While they are extremely territorial during their summer months in South Dakota, they form large flocks in their wintering grounds in South America.

Nesting

Early June through July. The nest of an Eastern Kingbird is a cup of grasses, sticks, weeds, and other vegetative material. The female usually lays 3 or 4 eggs, and she does the majority of the incubation. When the eggs hatch, both parents help feed the young. The young fledge after about 18 days, but parents typically continue to feed the young for several weeks after fledging occurs.

Song

The Eastern Kingbird gives a variety of sharp, buzzy, and chattering calls, often described as kip-kip-kip, with other calls of rapid sputtering notes, or very short crisp tzeet notes. Its voice is typically harsh and energetic rather than musical, and birds are especially vocal when defending territories or responding to intruders near the nest.

Migration

The Eastern Kingbird is a long-distance migrant that breeds across most of North America, including throughout South Dakota. After breeding, it migrates south through Central America to winter primarily in the Amazon Basin and other tropical regions of South America. Large flocks often form during fall migration, especially where fruit-bearing trees and shrubs provide abundant food.

Interactive eBird Map

Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Eastern Kingbird sightings

Similar Species

The bright white underparts, white tip of the tail, and dark gray upperparts generally make it distinctive if seen well. In less than ideal viewing conditions, they could perhaps be confused with the following:

Eastern Phoebe - Eastern Phoebes are another flycatcher species that are dark above, light below, and can sometimes be found in similar semi-open habitats as an Eastern Kingbird. Eastern Phoebes are often found near water, and in eastern South Dakota, often nest on the underside of bridges. In appearance, Eastern Phoebes are smaller birds, they lack the wing tips of the tail of the Eastern Kingbird, and have more of a brownish tone on their upperparts compared to the darker gray tone on an Eastern Kingbird.
Eastern Wood-pewee (and Western Wood-pewee) - Both species are found in South Dakota, with one in the eastern part of the state, one in the western part of the state. Both are virtually identical in appearance and thus ID keys here are the same for the two. Habitat is one clue from differentiating Wood-pewee species from Eastern Kingbirds, as both Wood-pewee species are more likely to be seen in forested areas than are Eastern Kingbirds. However, Wood-pewees will hang out around forest edges, and Eastern Kingbirds sometimes do so as well. In appearance, both Wood-pewees lack the white tail tip of the Eastern Kingbird. Both also are lighter in tone on their upperparts than Eastern Kingbird, and have yellow on the lower mandible of the bill (compared to all black bill of the Eastern Kingbird).
Western Kingbird - Western and Eastern Kingbird species are indeed found, respectively, in those two halves of North America, although the Eastern Kingbird ranges much further to the West, than the Western Kingbird ranges to the east. There is a very broad area of overlap between the two species, including all of South Dakota. Both species prefer similar habitat, and both can often be seen hanging out on barbed wire fences in the state. They're similar in structure and size, but plumage differences are obvious, as Western Kingbirds have lemon yellow undersides, and Eastern Kingbirds are white. Western Kingbirds also lack the white tail tip of the Eastern Kingbird.


Eastern Phoebe	Eastern Wood-pewee	Western Wood-pewee	Western Kingbird

South Dakota "Hotspot"

Not a difficult species to find from at least May through August. Particularly in the eastern part of the state, driving through areas with pasture and grassland means you'll almost certainly run into an Eastern Kingbird sitting on a barbed wire fence or fence post. One of the more prevalent and easily found species in South Dakota in summer.

Conservation Status

The Eastern Kingbird is generally considered a species of low conservation concern and remains widespread across North America. It adapts well to a variety of open habitats, including agricultural landscapes, shelterbelts, grasslands, and woodland edges. Although local declines may occur because of habitat loss, pesticide use, and reductions in insect prey, overall populations are considered stable and the species remains common throughout much of its range. The IUCN lists the Eastern Kingbird as a species of "Least Concern".

Photo Information

May 26th, 2003 -- Minnehaha County -- Terry L. Sohl

Audio File Credits

¹Andrew Spencer. Recorded in Logan County, Colorado on May 23rd, 2007. Original recording and information from xeno-canto.
²Richard E. Webster. Recorded in Saskatchewan, Canada on June 8th, 2014. Original recording and information from xeno-canto.