Bird Guide

Cassin's Kingbird vs Eastern Kingbird

Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans)

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

Small46 gForest

Adults have a gray head with slightly darker cheeks; a dark unforked tail with a buffy fringe and gray-olive underparts. They have a pale throat and deep yellow lower breast. Juveniles are duller and have pale edges on their wings. Measurements: Length: 8.3–9.1 in (21–23 cm) Weight: 1.6 oz (45 g) Wingspan: 41 cm Cassin's kingbird and the western kingbird are similar in appearance. Cassin's is a little larger than the western and the upper parts are a darker gray than the western.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Steph Cárdenas · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Small40 gWoodland

Adults are grey-black on the upperparts with light underparts; they have a long black tail with a white end and long, pointed wings. They have a red patch on their crown, seldom seen. They are of average size for a kingbird, at 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in), 33–38 cm (13–15 in) across the wings and weighing 33–55 g (1.2–1.9 oz). The call is a high-pitched, buzzing and unmusical chirp, frequently compared to an electric fence.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Anthony Batista · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cassin's Kingbird and Eastern Kingbird.