Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
Truly a bird of the western USA. In summer, we find Western Kingbirds in nearly every state west of the Mississippi River. In winter, they retreat into southwestern Mexico and Central America.
In former times, this bird was called the “Arkansas Kingbird.” In winter, these birds head south to the Pacific slopes of southern Mexico and Central America.
In southern California, where I grew up, while Western Kingbirds migrate north to breed, they might be confused with the Cassin’s Kingbirds I see and hear year-round. I find it easiest to look at the tail of these two birds for identity clues. The Cassin’s Kingbirds have a pale band at the tip of their tail feathers forming a band, where the Western Kingbirds have a pale edge, on both the left and right side of their tails.
Taxonomists regard the Western Kingbird as monotypic (i.e. there are no subspecies).
After visiting Texas for the first time in the spring of 2020, I left the Lower Rio Grande Valley and crossed through the heart of the state. Almost as soon as I left the Rio Grande in Laredo, I found Western Kingbirds to be quite common. At a state rest area near Botines, I met a pair of these birds building a nest at eye-level only a few feet from a picnic bench. I was amazed and mildly disgusted at the items they brought to the nest for its construction. The plastic twine and scraps of paper didn’t much bother me. When I saw filters from cigarette butts being used, I thought “what’s this world coming to?”
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Anza-Borrego State Park. Eastern San Diego County, California 2016-05-21. |
Date Taken: 2006:04:27 8:55 |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A3D09a27-WesternKingbird |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Hot Springs Mountain, near Warner Springs. North-Eastern San Diego County, CA. |
Date Taken: 2004:05:21 10:00 |
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Location:
Los Tules |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_6702WesternKingBird |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Portal Road at the foot of the Chiricahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:18 5:05 |
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Location:
Portal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_1046WesternKingBird |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Bicknell Bottoms south of Bicknell, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:08 14:53 |
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Location:
Bicknell Bottoms |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X0256-WesternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Goodan Ranch, Sycamore Canyon. Poway, California. San Diego County 2008-07-22. |
Date Taken: 2008:07:22 17:27 |
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Location:
Gooden Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 |
File Name: jcd9041WesternKingBird |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Sorrento Valley area. San Diego, California 2011-04-20. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:20 11:23 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD7309-WesternKingBird |
| © 2011 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Setting up territory near Cibola NWR along the Colorado River, south of Blythe, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:28 14:09 |
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Location:
Oxbow Camp |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X8329-WesternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Near Cibola NWR along the Colorado River, south of Blythe, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:28 14:08 |
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Location:
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X8318-WesternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.comv |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Setting up territory near Cibola NWR along the Colorado River, south of Blythe, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:28 14:05 |
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Location:
Oxbow Camp |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X8285-WesternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: These birds were nesting under the nest of a Ferrugenous Hawk family. Alongside the road from Burns Oregon to Malheur NWR. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 9:30 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X7207-WesternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: These birds were nesting under the nest of a Ferrugenous Hawk family. Alongside the road from Burns Oregon to Malheur NWR. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 9:30 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X7206-WesternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Parent feeding chick that must have fallen from its nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:27 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5981-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Parent bird preparing to feed grounded nestling. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:27 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5976-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: This parent was feeding a pre-flight age baby who'd fallen from the nest along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:27 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5972-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: This parent was feeding a pre-flight age baby who'd fallen from the nest along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:26 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5956-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:34 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_D503803-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:35 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_D503814-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I found some nice birds at a roadside rest area about one hour east of Fort Stockton Texas to break the monotony of the I-10 freeway. I was surprised how many birds I found. There were 3 oriole species, 3 flycatcher species, and cactus wrens. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:09 18:10 |
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Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_D505491-EastPecosCounty |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:51 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: WesternKingbird-Nest_D504182-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:54 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternKingbird-Nest_D504225-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:55 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird-Nest_D504329-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:56 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird-Nest_D504359-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:55 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird-Nest_D504309-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I found some nice birds at a roadside rest area about one hour east of Fort Stockton Texas to break the monotony of the I-10 freeway. I was surprised how many birds I found. There were 3 oriole species, 3 flycatcher species, and cactus wrens. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:09 18:08 |
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Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_D505474-EastPecosCounty |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Portal Road at the foot of the Chiricahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:27 9:59 |
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Location:
Portal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_1040WesternKingBird |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: These birds were seen in the vicinity of the eastern shores of the Salton Sea. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:19 17:56 |
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Location:
Fondo |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: WesternKingbird-_D5X5173 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: At the Kenneth Denman Wildlife Area, Rogue Valley Game Management Area, near Eagle Point, Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:29 12:32 |
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Location:
Ken Denman Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729718-WesternKingBird |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Feeding fledged young at Ramp Road Park near the northeastern shore of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport California, Mono County. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 10:04 |
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Location:
Bridgeport |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: WesternKingBird_D5X8698-Bridgeport |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Tecolote Canyon Reserve east of Mission Bay. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:04:04 10:24 |
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Location:
Fiesta Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X4922-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Chick that must have fallen from its nest. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 11:04 |
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Location:
Morris Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X6041-WesternKingBird-Chick |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Feeding fledged young at Ramp Road Park near the northeastern shore of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport California, Mono County. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 10:21 |
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Location:
Bridgeport |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: WesternKingBird_D5X8752-Bridgeport |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Feeding fledged young at Ramp Road Park near the northeastern shore of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport California, Mono County. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 10:34 |
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Location:
Bridgeport |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: WesternKingBird_D5X8849-Bridgeport |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Feeding fledged young at Ramp Road Park near the northeastern shore of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport California, Mono County. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 9:41 |
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Location:
Bridgeport |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternKingBird_D5X8597-Bridgeport |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Fledged young waiting to be feed at Ramp Road Park near the northeastern shore of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport California, Mono County. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 10:19 |
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Location:
Bridgeport |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: WesternKingBird_D5X8731-Bridgeport |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Rockhouse Truck Trail near Clark Lake in the Anza Borrego State Park. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:27 8:18 |
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Location:
Rockhouse Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5163-WesternKingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Both Eastern and Western Kingbirds were in attendance at Birding Island, Payette River Wildlife Management Area outside of Payette Idaho. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:31 14:03 |
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Location:
Birding Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X6622-WesternKingBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Feeding fledged young at Ramp Road Park near the northeastern shore of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport California, Mono County. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 10:25 |
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Location:
Bridgeport |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: WesternKingBird_D5X8812-Bridgeport |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I met these nesting Western Kingbirds at a rest area north of Loredo, where US-83 junctions with I-35. Their choice in nesting materials included cigarette filters, plastic trash and nylon twine. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:08 15:34 |
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Location:
Botines |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_D503803-Botines-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: Feeding fledged young at Ramp Road Park near the northeastern shore of Bridgeport Reservoir. Bridgeport California, Mono County. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 10:21 |
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Location:
Bridgeport |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: WesternKingBird_D5X8764-Bridgeport |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: This parent was feeding a pre-flight age baby who'd fallen from the nest along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:24 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5944-WesternKingBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I found Western Kingbirds during my tour of the Sandhills. After driving for hours, when I spotted a pull-out ahead, I took advantage of the opportunity to rest. This was the serendipitous way I found Willy Lake in the Sandhills of Nebraska. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:19 13:51 |
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Location:
Willy Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_8502165WillyLake-NE |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I drove several hours through southern Saskatchewan’s agricultural fields, over remote gravel roads looking for bird-life. Western Kingbirds seemed to make a good living there. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:10 12:27 |
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Location:
Lemsford |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_8500218-RuralSaskatchewan |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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Description: I drove several hours through southern Saskatchewan’s agricultural fields, over remote gravel roads looking for bird-life. Western Kingbirds seemed to make a good living there. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:10 12:27 |
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Location:
Lemsford |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternKingbird_8500212-RuralSaskatchewan |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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