Loggerhead Kingbird

Tyrannus caudifasciatus

Photo by Dave Whistle.
Photographed: Negril, Jamaica.

Identification

Gray Kingbird should have gray crown, not black, and a tail that is slightly forked. Quite dark above and very ligth below, with the crown black to below the eyes, and further down behind the eyes. Tail is square, and has a white trailing edge except for the eastern-most populations. Looking at the drawings, there seems to be a considerable size variation in the bill among the subspecies. Loggerhead Kingbird Breeding Male: Large flycatcher with olive-brown upperparts, dark head with inconspicuous yellow crown patch, white underparts, and pale yellow wash on lower belly. Wings are brown-black with white edges; tail is brown-black with buff-edged tip. Feet and legs are black.

Distribution

Resident in northern Bahama Islands and Greater Antilles; rare vagrant to southern Florida. Inhabits open woodlands.

Taxonomy

Six different subspecies are found in parts of the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. This is in other words a species limited to the Caribbean and mostly to Greater Antilles. The species does not migrate away from these islands, but may increase its habitat use during periods where Gray Kingbird is absent.

Behaviour

Likes to pluck insects from leaves and stems, not from mid air like the Gray Kingbird.

External Links

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