# Western Kingbird (*Tyrannus verticalis*) The Western Kingbird is a cheerful bird with a bright yellow belly and a gray head. They love to catch insects in the air and are often seen perched on fences or wires, singing their happy songs. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 39 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Western Kingbird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Western_kingbird_%2871748%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_kingbird_%2871748%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Kingbird has a sleek, gray head and back, contrasting with a bright yellow belly. Its most distinctive feature is a dark tail with crisp white outer edges, making it easy to identify even in flight. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Tyrannidae - **Genus:** Tyrannus ## Interesting facts - During migration, they can travel thousands of kilometers from north to south. - Sometimes, they eat berries and fruit, especially when insects are scarce. - Their nests are sometimes made of fine twigs, plant fibers, and even bits of string. - They often perch on fences or wires, looking like tiny sentinels of the prairie. ## Special abilities - **Aerial Hunter:** Western Kingbirds can catch flying insects mid-air with incredible speed because of their agile flight and sharp eyesight. - **Nest Defender:** Western Kingbirds can bravely chase much larger birds, like hawks, away from their nests that helps protect their young. - **Hidden Crown:** Western Kingbirds have a hidden orange crown patch that they can flash to signal warnings or display during courtship. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-24 cm - **Wingspan:** 38-41 cm - **Weight:** 0.033-0.055 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-8 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 14-17 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds mostly eat flying insects, but sometimes snack on berries and small fruits. - **Primary Foods:** Flies, Bees, Wasps, Grasshoppers, Beetles, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — Eats eggs and nestlings. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Preys on adult kingbirds. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Predator in human-modified landscapes. - **Hunts:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Catches insects mid-flight. ## 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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [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 disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western 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 Western Kingbird? 20-24 cm ### What is Western Kingbird's wingspan? 38-41 cm ### How much does Western Kingbird weigh? 0.033-0.055 kg ### How long does Western Kingbird live? 3-8 years ### How fast can Western Kingbird move? 45 km/h ### What does Western Kingbird eat? These birds mostly eat flying insects, but sometimes snack on berries and small fruits. ### Where is Western Kingbird usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Franks Tract State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/franks-tract-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Mesilla Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesilla-plaza) — New Mexico, US · Park - [Monument Rocks](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monument-rocks) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Western Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-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: [Western Kingbird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-kingbird)