Bird Guide

Cassin's Kingbird vs Fork-tailed Flycatcher

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
Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Small32 gGrassland

The fork-tailed flycatcher is white below, gray above, and has a black cap. Males sometimes show a yellow crown stripe. Males also have an extremely long, forked tail, of even greater length than that of the related scissor-tailed flycatcher. Females have a somewhat shorter tail, and it is significantly shorter in juveniles. Males are 37–41 cm (15–16 in) in length; females, 28–30 cm (11–12 in), including tail. They weigh only 28–32 g (0.99–1.13 oz), much less than closely related kingbirds, which are half the total length of this species. Voice: Fork-tailed flycatchers produce both vocal and nonvocal sounds. In general, they have a dry, buzzy call, and a weak "tic-note" while in flight. Their wings have been observed to make a distinct whistling note while flying overhead. Research has uncovered differences in the pitch of whistling noises by different subspecies of T. savana.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Rogier Klappe · CC BY 2.0

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 Fork-tailed Flycatcher.