Tropical Kingbird

About the Tropical Kingbird

The Tropical Kingbird is a sun-yellow flycatcher of the American tropics that reaches the United States mainly in far South Texas and southern Arizona. It is nearly identical to Couch's Kingbird, and the two confounded ornithologists for decades; by sight alone even experts hesitate, but voice separates them instantly. The Tropical gives a fast, twittering trill quite unlike Couch's buzzy calls.

Tropical Kingbirds hunt like all kingbirds, launching from wires and bare branches to snap insects out of the air, and they have been quietly expanding their Texas range northward in recent decades.

This bird was photographed at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission, calling from the wires, which is exactly how you want a Tropical Kingbird to identify itself.