Western Kingbird Patch

#60 Western Kingbird

This large flycatcher of open country in the west has adapted well to human development over the last century. Roadside fences and utility lines offer them hunting perches from which they sally out to catch flying insects, while utility poles provide nest sites. And they will aggressively defend those nests from much larger predators like ravens, hawks, and falcons that stray too close. Compared to other yellow-bellied kingbirds, notice their ashy head and the white outer feathers on their black tail.