Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Except in the Desert Southwest and the Great Basin, we find Eastern Kingbirds over most of the USA. These birds spend winters in South America, mostly in the upper Amazon Basin.
I met my first Eastern Kingbird near Saskatoon Lake in Alberta, Canada. I’ve since met them in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Texas.
Like most birds in the Kingbird clan, in defence of its breeding territory, it lives up to its tyrant name (tyrannus), making unrelenting assaults on birds such as large hawks and herons.
Today’s taxonomists regard the Eastern Kingbird as monotypic (i.e. there are no subspecies).
While visiting South Texas, I learned it is an ideal place to meet these birds during migration. They pass through a narrow strip of land along the Gulf of Mexico before disbursing over the rest of the North American continent. During these migrations, they often stop in locations like South Padre Island to refuel for the journey north.
Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming have provided me with encounters with Eastern Kingbirds. I took a 16,000 mile journey through North America in 2022, that included much of western Canada, and I met more of these birds. The trip also included a late September tour of south Texas, where I met south-bound migrating birds on South Padre Island.
27 Photos
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: At the Visitor Center on the north edge of Jackson, Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:16 11:40 |
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Location:
Jackson Visitor Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2722-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Against a gray, overcast sky ay Birding Island, Payette River Wildlife Management Area outside of Payette Idaho. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:30 17:09 |
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Location:
Birding Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X6331-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: I'm coming for you! Birding Island, Payette River Wildlife Management Area outside of Payette Idaho. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:30 17:09 |
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Location:
Birding Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X6340-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Birding Island, Payette River Wildlife Management Area outside of Payette Idaho. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:30 17:15 |
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Location:
Birding Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X6408-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Birding Island, Payette River Wildlife Management Area outside of Payette Idaho. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:30 17:16 |
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Location:
Birding Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X6441-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:03 9:30 |
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Location:
Lake Saskatoon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/21.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD3293EasternKingbird |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:03 9:38 |
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Location:
Lake Saskatoon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/25.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD3305EasternKingbird |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Cutout from a bird seen at Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:03 9:38 |
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Location:
Lake Saskatoon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/21.0, 1/250 |
File Name: Cut_JCD3304EasternKingbird |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:03 9:22 |
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Location:
Lake Saskatoon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD3278EasternKingbird |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:27 12:37 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5407-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: At the Visitor Center on the north edge of Jackson, Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:16 11:45 |
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Location:
Jackson Visitor Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X2732-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: I met this bird along the Center Patrol Road of Malheur NWR in the area near Buena Vista Ponds. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 14:10 |
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Location:
Center Patrol Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7704-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:27 11:43 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5230-EasternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Eastern Kingbirds pass through southern Texas on their migration from South America to much of North America. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:03 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_D500665-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
|
Description: Eastern Kingbirds pass through southern Texas on their migration from South America to much of North America. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:29 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_D500976-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
|
Description: Eastern Kingbirds pass through southern Texas on their migration from South America to much of North America. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:03 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_D501128-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
|
Description: Eastern Kingbirds pass through southern Texas on their migration from South America to much of North America. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 16:27 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_D501287-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Eastern Kingbirds patrolled the marsh, and I enjoyed their company during my visits to McQueen Slough, which is only a few miles from Dawson Creek in British Columbia. It became a favorite birding location during my stay. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:29 12:54 |
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Location:
McQueen Slough |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8506193-McQueenSlough.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Eastern Kingbirds patrolled the marsh, and I enjoyed their company during my visits to McQueen Slough, which is only a few miles from Dawson Creek in British Columbia. It became a favorite birding location during my stay. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:02 13:55 |
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Location:
McQueen Slough |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8507224-McQueenSlough.BC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: I saw Eastern Kingbirds on most of my tours through the park. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:11 14:21 |
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Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8500229-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
|
Description: I saw Eastern Kingbirds on most of my tours through the park. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:14 9:20 |
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Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8501225-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
|
Description: I saw Eastern Kingbirds on most of my tours through the park. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:14 9:21 |
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Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8501243-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
|
Description: I saw Eastern Kingbirds on most of my tours through the park. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:14 9:58 |
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Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8501446-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Eastern Kingbirds seemed to be everywhere I looked at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:17 11:01 |
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Location:
Shoveler Pond |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8504372-Anahuac.NWR_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Eastern Kingbirds seemed to be everywhere I looked at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:17 11:22 |
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Location:
Shoveler Pond |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8504470-Anahuac.NWR_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Eastern Wood-Pewees aren’t known to breed this far south in Texas, so these birds were probably on the move south to their winter homes in South America. Spend a day at the SPI Bird and Nature Center (BNC) and there will surely be some interesting birds for your entertainment. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:03 9:06 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8507692-SPI-BirdNatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus) |
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Description: Finding Eastern Kingbirds on South Padre Island in September was not difficult. With their love of high perches, seeing them was easy. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:08 11:03 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: EasternKingbird_8509565-SPI.BNC_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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