Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Within the borders of the USA, we find the Great Kiskadee only in south Texas, but they range widely throughout most of the lands to the south, extending all the way to the southern South America. These bold and vocal birds are conspicuous where ever they roam, and their loud kiss-ka-dee calls resound whenever they are nearby. I met them almost as soon as I crossed into their territorial range in Del Rio (Texas), and they continued to entertain and to keep me company the entire time I was in southern Texas.
These birds are omnivorous, and observers believe both parents share the duties of feeding and caring for their young. Great Kiskadees are one of the largest of all flycatchers, and both parents will aggressively defend their nesting territory from intruders much larger than themselves.
Modern science divides the Great Kiskadee into ten subspecies.
- P. s. texanus – lives in southern Texas and south to eastern Mexico
- P. s. derbianus – lives in western Mexico
- P. s. guatimalensis – lives in southeastern Mexico south to central Panama
- P. s. rufipennis – lives in northern Colombia and northern Venezuela
- P. s. caucensis – lives in western and southern Colombia
- P. s. trinitatis – lives in eastern Colombia, southeastern Venezuela, northwestern Brazil, and Trinidad
- P. s. sulphuratus – lives in the Guianas and northwestern and central Amazonian Brazil, southeastern Colombia and eastern Ecuador to southeastern Peru
- P. s. maximiliani – lives in northeastern Bolivia and west-central Paraguay to eastern and southern Brazil
- P. s. bolivianus – lives in central Bolivia
- P. s. argentinus – lives in eastern Paraguay, southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and south to central Argentina
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: I drove to Port Isabel from Brownsville on an errand, then I scouted the neighborhood and roadsides for birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:06 9:24 |
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Location:
Various Locations |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D501031-PortIsabel-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: I drove to Port Isabel from Brownsville on an errand, then I scouted the neighborhood and roadsides for birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:06 9:24 |
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Location:
Various Locations |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D501050-PortIsabel-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: As I was leaving Harlingen Texas and heading to Brownsville, I looked at the birding opportunities that might be in town. I read that Red-Crowned Parrots were known to frequent a neighborhood in town so I drove there and stood vigil for awhile. No parrots showed, but these Kiskadees performed for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:22 11:54 |
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Location:
N.7th St. & E.Williamson Ave. |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D507295-Harlingen-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: As I was leaving Harlingen Texas and heading to Brownsville, I looked at the birding opportunities that might be in town. I read that Red-Crowned Parrots were known to frequent a neighborhood in town so I drove there and stood vigil for awhile. No parrots showed, but these Kiskadees performed for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:22 11:54 |
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Location:
N.7th St. & E.Williamson Ave. |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D507302-Harlingen-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: As I was leaving Harlingen Texas and heading to Brownsville, I looked at the birding opportunities that might be in town. I read that Red-Crowned Parrots were known to frequent a neighborhood in town so I drove there and stood vigil for awhile. No parrots showed, but these Kiskadees performed for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:22 11:55 |
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Location:
N.7th St. & E.Williamson Ave. |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D507319-Harlingen-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: On my first full day in camp I split my time between chores and chasing birds and met this Great Kiskadee posing on a Chinaberry branch. Triple R RV Resort on the Nueces River near Crystal City Texas. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:11 15:36 |
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Location:
Nueces River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 450 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D508918-NuecesRiver |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: On my first full day in camp I split my time between chores and chasing birds here at the Triple R RV Resort on the Nueces River near Crystal City Texas. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:11 15:36 |
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Location:
Nueces River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 450 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D508930-NuecesRiver |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Often elusive, this bird overcame its shyness for a drink and a bath. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 16:50 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D505237-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: Often elusive, this bird overcame its shyness for a drink and a bath. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 16:52 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D505276-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: Often elusive, this bird overcame its shyness for a drink and a bath. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 16:52 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D505284-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: I rode my bike in town along the San Felipe Creek to find these birds. A hiking and biking trail runs through town, following the creek through Del Rio. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:09 15:40 |
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Location:
San Felipe Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D508298-DelRioTexas |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: I rode my bike in town along the San Felipe Creek to find these birds. My day in Del Rio was spent chasing birds at four different locations around Del Rio Texas. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:09 15:39 |
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Location:
San Felipe Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D508291-DelRioTexas |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Kiskadees were quite vocal and could be heard from their high canopy perches throughout the park. At Ibis Pond, they were more cooperative. I spent Friday exploring a jewel of birding in south Texas; Estero Llano Grande State Park. I couldn’t visit this place last spring because of the pandemic. It is a wonderful place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:22 15:02 |
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Location:
Estero Llano Grande State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X4613-EsteroLlano |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: Kiskadees were quite vocal and could be heard from their high canopy perches throughout the park. At Ibis Pond, they were more cooperative. I spent Friday exploring a jewel of birding in south Texas; Estero Llano Grande State Park. I couldn’t visit this place last spring because of the pandemic. It is a wonderful place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:22 15:03 |
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Location:
Estero Llano Grande State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X4622-EsteroLlano |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: Kiskadees were quite vocal and could be heard from their high canopy perches throughout the park. At Ibis Pond, they were more cooperative. I spent Friday exploring a jewel of birding in south Texas; Estero Llano Grande State Park. I couldn’t visit this place last spring because of the pandemic. It is a wonderful place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:22 15:03 |
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Location:
Estero Llano Grande State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X4626-EsteroLlano |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Kiskadees were heard, but not seen most of the time. That changed when it came time to drink. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 14:39 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X7009-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: Kiskadees were heard, but not seen most of the time. That changed when it came time to drink. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 14:40 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X7040-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Kiskadees sounded off all over the compound, but only a few presented well enough to photograph. I spent a lovely day walking the paths of Quinta Mazatlan, 20 acre reserve in McAllen (Texas). Late February may not be the best time to chase birds in the area, but those I met pleased me. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:23 11:11 |
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Location:
Quinta Mazatlan |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X4997-QuintaMazatlan_TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Frigid weather seemed to bring unexpected birds, such as these kiskadees, to the seed feeders at Bentsen RGV SP. The mercury rose to 30°F this morning from 22°F yesterday in south Texas. I had camped only a mile-and-a-half from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, so despite the cold, I ventured out for a couple of hours, until my hands began complaining of the low temperature. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:16 10:44 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X1923-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: I heard kiskadees from the dense mangroves throughout the marsh, but only near the visitor center did they allow me to see them clearly. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 13:59 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X1289SouthPadre-WBC |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: Frigid weather seemed to bring unexpected birds, such as these kiskadees, to the seed feeders at Bentsen RGV SP. The mercury rose to 30°F this morning from 22°F yesterday in south Texas. I had camped only a mile-and-a-half from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, so despite the cold, I ventured out for a couple of hours, until my hands began complaining of the low temperature. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:16 10:40 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X1904-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: Frigid weather seemed to bring unexpected birds, such as these kiskadees, to the seed feeders at Bentsen RGV SP. The mercury rose to 30°F this morning from 22°F yesterday in south Texas. I had camped only a mile-and-a-half from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, so despite the cold, I ventured out for a couple of hours, until my hands began complaining of the low temperature. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:16 10:47 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X1971-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Great Kiskadees were actively working the edges of the resaca during my visit. Hunter Lane is at the far side of the park, two miles from the Resaca de la Palma Visitor Center. It is the most reliable place in the reserve to find standing water, and my favorite place to enjoy birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:21 12:43 |
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Location:
Resaca de la Palma |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X4692-ResacaDeLaPalma |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: The Great Kiskadee is the largest flycatcher in North America. South Texas is about the only place in the USA where we find them. Tuesday's all day visit to capture images at the SPI Convention Centre was fruitful. The folks I met were great, and the birds were amazing. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:30 12:01 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X7498-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Kiskadees on Tuesday were eating seeds, but with today’s warmer weather, they were back to bugs. I returned to Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Friday, three days after my first brief visit last Tuesday, when cold weather had a firm grip on most live forms. With my repaired bicycle under me, I explored all the paths the park would allow and spent a lovely day capturing wildlife images. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:19 11:16 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X3074-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Not all birds I met were migrants. South Texas is the only place in the USA that hosts Great Kiskadees. With spring migration on South Padre Island (Texas) picking up, there’s no other place I’d rather be in April. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:02 9:52 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X9514-SheepsheadBirdSanctuary |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: These very vocal birds could be heard all day. As part of The Great Texas Birding Classic, The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 18:02 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X1840-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
|
Description: The Great Kiskadee is the largest flycatcher in North America. South Texas is about the only place in the USA where we find them. Tuesday's all day visit to capture images at the SPI Convention Centre was fruitful. The folks I met were great, and the birds were amazing. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:30 14:44 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X7978-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Kiskadee(Pitangus sulphuratus) |
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Description: Kiskadees around most of Texas can be quite shy, but not here on SPI. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 15:48 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/350 |
File Name: GreatKiskadee_D5X5050_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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