About the Tropical Kingbird
The tropical kingbird is a large tyrant flycatcher. This bird breeds from southern Arizona and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States through Central America, South America as far as south as central Argentina and eastern Peru, and on Trinidad and Tobago. Birds from the northernmost and southern breeding areas migrate to warmer parts of the range after breeding.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
An adult tropical kingbird is 22 cm (8.7 in) long, weighs 39 g (1.4 oz) and has a wingspan range of 38–41 cm. The head is pale gray, with a darker eye mask, an orange crown stripe, and a heavy gray bill. The back is grayish-green, and the wing and forked tail are brown. The throat is pale gray, becoming olive on the breast, with the rest of the underparts being yellow. The sexes are similar, but young birds have pale buff edges on the wing coverts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Tropical Kingbird sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Cuba, Cayman Islands.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisAdults are a combination of both gray and yellow plumage, along with crimson feathers that are hidden until courtship or against intruders.
Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferansAdults have a gray head with slightly darker cheeks; a dark unforked tail with a buffy fringe and gray-olive underparts.
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusAdult birds have pale gray heads and upper parts, light underparts, salmon-pink flanks and undertail coverts, and dark gray wings.
Side by side: Eastern Kingbird vs Tropical Kingbird · Great Kiskadee vs Tropical Kingbird · Tropical Kingbird vs Western Kingbird · Cassin's Kingbird vs Tropical Kingbird · Scissor-tailed Flycatcher vs Tropical Kingbird
Learn the Tropical Kingbird for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.