Bird Guide

Grey Kingbird vs Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis)

Grey Kingbird

Tyrannus dominicensis

Small47 gForest

The adult gray kingbird is an average-sized kingbird. It measures 23 cm (9.1 in) in length and weighs from 37 to 52 g (1.3 to 1.8 oz). The upperparts are gray, with brownish wings and tail, and the underparts are white with a gray tinge to the chest. The head has a concealed yellow crown stripe, and a dusky mask through the eyes. The dark bill is heavier than that of the related, slightly smaller, tropical kingbird. The sexes are similar, but young birds have rufous edges on the wing coverts, rump and tail.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · CC0
Photo: Aitor · CC BY 4.0
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Small39 gUrban

Adult birds have pale gray heads and upper parts, light underparts, salmon-pink flanks and undertail coverts, and dark gray wings. Axillars and patch on underwing coverts are red. Their extremely long, forked tails, which are black on top and white on the underside, are characteristic and unmistakable. At maturity, the male may be up to 15 in (38 cm) in length, while the female's tail is up to 30% shorter. The wingspan is 38.1 cm (15.0 in) and the weight is up to 43 g (1.5 oz). Immature birds are duller in color and have shorter tails.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kramer, Gary · Public domain

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Grey Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.