The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) is a common bird found throughout the western United States and Canada. In California, it is a resident breeder in spring and summer across most of the state except the very driest areas of the southeast.
What does the Western Kingbird look like?
The Western Kingbird is a medium-sized songbird, about 8-9 inches (20-23 cm) in length. It has a large head, large eyes, short legs, short bill, and long, pointed wings.
Adults have a gray head and back, with a darker gray patch on the crown. Their wings and tail are black with white outer tail feathers. The throat and breast are pale yellow, with a darker yellow belly. There is a reddish patch concealed in the center of the yellow throat. The beak is black on top and pale orange on the bottom base.
Males and females look similar, but females have a paler throat and belly. Juveniles are duller overall, with browner upperparts and less distinctive head markings.
Where do Western Kingbirds live in California?
The Western Kingbird inhabits open country across most of California. Their breeding habitat includes grasslands, agricultural areas, open shrublands, riparian woodlands, savannas, edges of marshes and lakes, and human-altered areas such as pastures and suburbs.
They tend to avoid dense, closed-canopy forests. In the mountains, they are found up to around 8,000 feet in elevation. Along the coast, they inhabit valleys, foothills, agricultural areas, and open habitats near the ocean.
Some key areas for finding breeding Western Kingbirds in California include:
- Central Valley
- Coastal valleys and foothills from Santa Barbara south
- Grasslands and agricultural areas of northeastern California
- Lower Colorado River Valley
- Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
- Mojave Desert oases
- Mountain meadows of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges
When do Western Kingbirds arrive in California?
Most Western Kingbirds arrive in California in April or May to establish breeding territories. The timing of spring migration varies depending on location:
- Central Valley: Early April
- Northern California: Mid-April
- Southern California: Late April
- High elevations: May
Males typically arrive before females to set up nesting sites. Peak breeding season is May through July across most of the state.
Some Western Kingbirds overwinter in southern California, but most migrate out of the state starting in August. They leave gradually over a couple months, with most gone by October. Stragglers may linger into November or December.
What do Western Kingbirds eat?
Western Kingbirds are insectivores and eat a wide variety of flying insects. Their diet includes flies, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, moths, butterflies, and other insects. They capture insects in flight or glean them from foliage while perched or hovering.
They regularly hawk insects from an exposed perch, flying out to snatch prey and returning to the same perch. Western Kingbirds also drink nectar from flowers to supplement their diet with sugar.
In agricultural areas, they help control pest insects like grasshoppers that damage crops. They forage in open habitats like fields, pastures, orchards, roadsides, and urban parks.
What’s their nesting behavior?
Western Kingbirds build nests in trees, shrubs, utility poles, or other structures. Nest sites are usually 5-40 feet above ground, protected from above but with open surroundings.
The nest is built by both male and female over 4-12 days out of twigs, grass, bark strips, stems, feathers, and other materials. It is a compact, sturdy cup secured with spider silk and caterpillar cocoons.
Females lay 3-6 eggs that are whitish with brown splotches. Incubation lasts 12-14 days and is done mainly by the female. The eggs hatch over 2-3 days. Both parents feed the young a diet of insects and larvae.
The nestlings fledge at 14-19 days old. Pairs often raise two broods per season. Nests are vigorously defended against intruders and predators. Common nest predators include snakes, squirrels, and jays.
What’s their habitat like?
Western Kingbirds thrive in open habitats with scattered trees or shrubs for nesting sites and perches. They do well around human settlements like ranches, farms, residential areas, parks, and roadsides.
Typical habitat features include:
- Open grasslands, fields, pastures
- Riparian woodlands along streams, lakes, or ponds
- Desert oases and washes
- Agricultural areas with scattered trees and fences
- Rural farms, ranches, and homesteads
- Parks, golf courses, cemeteries
- Roadsides with telephone lines and utility poles
Access to nest sites like trees, shrubs, posts, or rafters is essential. They prefer flat or gently rolling terrain over dense forest. Good insect supply and open flying space for foraging are also important habitat components.
How do Western Kingbirds interact with other birds?
Western Kingbirds are highly territorial and aggressive. They actively defend nesting and feeding areas against a wide range of intruders, especially other kingbirds, corvids (jays, crows, etc.), hawks, owls, and mammalian nest predators like squirrels.
They may mob much larger birds that enter their territory, relentlessly diving and swooping at the intruder. They also compete with other insect-eating birds that forage in the same areas.
On their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America, Western Kingbirds mix freely with other tyrant flycatchers. Migrants often travel in loose flocks of mixed species.
In California, they may tolerate nesting by other compatible species like Bullock’s Orioles, though they remain highly protective of their own nest. Overall, their feisty behavior helps advertise and defend prime nesting and feeding areas.
What’s their conservation status?
The Western Kingbird has a large range over much of western North America. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 19 million, with 79% living in the U.S. and Canada.
Population Trend:
1966-2015: | +0.05% / year |
2008-2017: | -1.31% / year |
The species rates an 11 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score. It is not on the 2014 State of North America’s Birds Watch List.
Overall, Western Kingbird populations appear stable long-term but may be declining more recently. The species adapts readily to human-altered habitats and is not at high risk of decline. However, habitat loss and pesticide use may pose threats to some populations.
How can you attract Western Kingbirds?
Here are some tips to attract Western Kingbirds to your yard or property:
- Provide open flycatching perches like fence posts or dead snags
- Plant native trees and shrubs for nesting habitat
- Avoid pesticide use so prey insects thrive
- Put up nest boxes suitable for kingbirds
- Supply a fresh water source like a birdbath or fountain
- Allow dead trees or branches for natural cavities and perches
- Let field edges or pastures grow tall with seed-producing grasses and wildflowers
With ample perches, nest sites, insect prey, and open habitat, Western Kingbirds are likely to take up residence and provide natural pest control through insect-eating. Observing their spirited nest defense behaviors provides free entertainment too!
Where can you see Western Kingbirds in California?
Some top sites for sighting Western Kingbirds in breeding season include:
- Kern National Wildlife Refuge – Fields and riparian habitat in the Central Valley
- Honey Lake Wildlife Area – Wetlands, sloughs, and grasslands
- Cosumnes River Preserve – Floodplain oak woodlands and marshlands
- Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve – Grasslands, oak savannas, and meadows
- Lake Henshaw – Riparian and oak woodlands around the lake
- Morongo Valley – Desert oasis near Yucca Valley
- Piute Ponds – Desert wetlands in the Mojave National Preserve
- South Yuba River State Park – Riparian corridors of the Sierra foothills
In winter, visit hotspots like Imperial Valley, Salton Sea, and the Channel Islands to see migrating and wintering Western Kingbirds gathering in California’s warm south. With a sharp eye and quick reflexes, you’ll spot them perched conspicuously or hawking insects over open country.
Fun facts about the Western Kingbird
- The oldest recorded Western Kingbird was at least 13 years, 11 months old when recaptured and rereleased during banding studies in California.
- Their scientific name Tyrannus verticalis refers to their aggressive behavior. Tyrannus means “tyrant” in Latin.
- They have relatively large brains compared to other tyrant flycatchers.
- Western Kingbirds beat their wings up to 50 times per second during normal flight.
- They sometimes steal prey mid-air from other birds like cliff swallows.
- Males establish territories as soon as they arrive from migration so they can attract females.
- Both parents feed nestlings, but offspring compete aggressively for food by jostling and poking each other.
- Nestlings can beg for food by stretching their necks high and vibrating their wings.
- Young kingbirds may return to their birthplace to breed the following year.
- They have elongated outer tail feathers used for in-flight communication.
Conclusion
In summary, the Western Kingbird is a common and widespread songbird that thrives in open habitats across California. They migrate here each spring to breed, building nests and raising young over the summer.
These feisty flycatchers are very territorial and aggressively defend their nest sites. They eat insects caught on the wing and help control pest species.
Western Kingbird populations appear mostly stable currently after increasing over the last 50 years. They adapt readily to human settlements but still need protected nest sites and ample insect prey. With a little habitat preservation and pesticide restraint, these handsome kingbirds will continue flourishing in California’s wide-open spaces.