# Gray Kingbird (*Tyrannus dominicensis*) The Gray Kingbird is a cheerful bird with a gray body and a black cap on its head. It loves to catch insects in mid-air and can often be seen perched on a branch, waiting for its next meal. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Gray Kingbird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Grey_Kingbird_%28Tyrannus_dominicensis%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dick Daniels ( http://theworldbirds.org/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grey_Kingbird_%28Tyrannus_dominicensis%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Gray Kingbird has a pale gray head and back, with a distinctive dark mask through its eyes. Its underside is whitish, and it sports a heavy, dark bill and a slightly notched tail, making it look sleek. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Tyrannidae - **Genus:** Tyrannus ## Interesting facts - During migration, these birds can cross large stretches of ocean without stopping! - Gray Kingbirds often build their cup-shaped nests near water, sometimes even over it! - Its scientific name, 'Tyrannus dominicensis', means 'tyrant' due to its bold nature! - They have a loud, distinctive 'pee-cheer-weee' call that carries surprisingly far! ## Special abilities - **Hawkeye Hunter:** Gray Kingbird can spot tiny insects from a high perch because of its excellent eyesight, helping it catch food. - **Tyrant Territory:** Gray Kingbird can fiercely chase off much larger birds, like hawks, because it's a brave defender of its nest. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Gray Kingbird can quickly dart and hover mid-air, allowing it to snatch flying insects with amazing precision. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-24 cm - **Wingspan:** 38-42 cm - **Weight:** 0.035-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-8 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 14-16 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding Feasts on flying insects caught mid-air, but also enjoys berries and small fruits! - **Primary Foods:** Dragonflies, Bees, Wasps, Beetles, Grasshoppers, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Green Darner (*Anax junius*) — Kingbirds often catch these large dragonflies mid-flight. - **Eats:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — A common insect prey for kingbirds, snatched from the air. - **Eats:** Strangler Fig (*Ficus aurea*) — Kingbirds also enjoy the small, sweet fruits of this tree. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A larger raptor that may prey on adult kingbirds or their young. - **Shelter:** [Red Mangrove](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-mangrove) (*Rhizophora mangle*) — Nests are frequently built in the protective branches of mangroves. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gray Kingbird? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gray Kingbird? 20-24 cm ### What is Gray Kingbird's wingspan? 38-42 cm ### How much does Gray Kingbird weigh? 0.035-0.05 kg ### How long does Gray Kingbird live? 4-8 years ### How fast can Gray Kingbird move? 45 km/h ### What does Gray Kingbird eat? Feasts on flying insects caught mid-air, but also enjoys berries and small fruits! ### Where is Gray Kingbird usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Miami Beach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-beach-botanical-garden) — US · Botanical Garden - [Key West Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/key-west-aquarium) — US · Zoo - [Collins Waterfront Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/collins-waterfront-architectural-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Fort De Soto Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-de-soto-park) — US · Nature Reserve - [Miami Beach Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-beach-architectural-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Normandy Isles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/normandy-isles-historic-district) — US · Historic District [View all places to see Gray Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gray-kingbird) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Gray Kingbird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-kingbird)