# Great Kiskadee (*Pitangus sulphuratus*)

The Great Kiskadee is a cheerful bird known for its bright yellow belly and loud calls. It loves to perch on branches and often catches insects or small fish near water.

- **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 4
- **Habitat:** Urban areas
- **Also known as:** Kiskadee

![Great Kiskadee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Great_kiskadee_%2870240%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_kiskadee_%2870240%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Great Kiskadee has a bright yellow belly and an olive-brown back. Its head is black with a distinctive bold white stripe above each eye, and a hidden yellow crown patch. These bold markings make it easily recognizable.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Passeriformes
- **Family:** Tyrannidae
- **Genus:** Pitangus

## Interesting facts

- Great Kiskadees are fearless, often chasing away much larger birds like hawks!
- Hidden on its head is a bright yellow crown, only seen when the bird is excited!
- They are not picky eaters, enjoying everything from berries to small frogs and lizards!
- This clever bird sometimes steals insects right from spiderwebs, outsmarting spiders!

## Special abilities

- **Fishing Diver:** Great Kiskadee can dive headfirst into water to catch fish and tadpoles because of its keen eyesight and agility.
- **Aerial Hunter:** Great Kiskadee can snatch insects mid-air with lightning speed because of its sharp vision and quick reflexes.
- **Territorial Call:** Great Kiskadee has an incredibly loud, onomatopoeic call that helps them communicate and defend their territory.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 20-25 cm
- **Wingspan:** 35-40 cm
- **Weight:** 0.045-0.07 kg
- **Lifespan:** 5-8 years
- **Speed:** 35 km/h
- **Clutch Size:** 2-5
- **Incubation:** 14-16 days

## Diet & Feeding

A greedy omnivore, it eats almost anything it can catch, from insects to fish and fruit!

- **Primary Foods:** large insects, small fish, berries, frogs, lizards, tadpoles
- **Foraging Method:** Pursuit

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** Green Darner Dragonfly (*Anax junius*) — A primary insect food source for adults.
- **Hunts:** [Guppy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/guppy) (*Poecilia reticulata*) — Dives into water to catch these small fish.
- **Eaten by:** Roadside Hawk (*Buteo magnirostris*) — Eggs, nestlings, and sometimes adults are preyed upon.
- **Eats:** Shortleaf Fig (*Ficus citrifolia*) — Feeds on the fruits, spreading seeds.

## Collections

- [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Great Kiskadee?

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 Great Kiskadee?

20-25 cm

### What is Great Kiskadee's wingspan?

35-40 cm

### How much does Great Kiskadee weigh?

0.045-0.07 kg

### How long does Great Kiskadee live?

5-8 years

### How fast can Great Kiskadee move?

35 km/h

### What does Great Kiskadee eat?

A greedy omnivore, it eats almost anything it can catch, from insects to fish and fruit!

### Where is Great Kiskadee usually found?

Urban areas

## Where to spot

- [Fort Brown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-brown) — US · Historic Site
- [Fort McIntosh](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-mcintosh) — US · Historic Site
- [Caracol State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caracol-state-park) — BR · Park
- [Mãe Bonifácia State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mae-bonifacia-state-park) — BR · Park
- [Benjamin Maranhão Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benjamin-maranhao-botanical-garden) — BR · Park

[View all places to see Great Kiskadee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-kiskadee)

## 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*)

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Source: [Great Kiskadee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-kiskadee)