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Couch's Kingbird - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Michael W
Santa Ana NWR, south Texas, April 2004
Tyrannus couchii

Identification

8 1/2" (22 cm)
Bright yellow underparts, olive back, and dark patch through eye. Slightly forked brown tail without white.

Similar Species

The Tropical Kingbird, very rare in southern Texas (but the two are widely sympatric to the south) is almost identical in appearance but has distinctive twittering calls and a longer bill.

Distribution

Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. In the USA, found only on the extreme southern tip of Texas.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Open areas in trees near water.

Behaviour

Perches on trees and wires to sally for insects. Acrobatic flight while pursuing prey.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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