Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
Truly a bird of the Western US, the Western Kingbird can be found in the summer in nearly every state west of the Mississippi River. 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 when these birds come north to breed, they can be confused with Cassin’s Kingbirds which are found (and heard) year-round. When seen, I find it easiest to look at the tail of these two birds. The Cassin’s has a pale band at the tip of their tail feathers forming a band, where the Western Kingbird has a pale edge, on both the left and right side of its tail.

Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Anza-Borrego State Park. Eastern San Diego County, California 2016-05-21. |
Date Taken: 2006:04:27 8:55 |
Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A3D09a27-WesternKingbird |
© 2006 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Hot Springs Mountain, near Warner Springs. North-Eastern San Diego County, CA. |
Date Taken: 2004:05:21 10:00 |
Location:
Los Tules |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_6702WesternKingBird |
© 2004 Jack Daynes |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Portal Road at the foot of the Chiricahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:18 5:05 |
Location:
Portal |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_1046WesternKingBird |
© 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Bicknell Bottoms south of Bicknell, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:08 14:53 |
Location:
Bicknell Bottoms |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X0256-WesternKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Goodan Ranch, Sycamore Canyon. Poway, California. San Diego County 2008-07-22. |
Date Taken: 2008:07:22 17:27 |
Location:
Gooden Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 |
File Name: jcd9041WesternKingBird |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Sorrento Valley area. San Diego, California 2011-04-20. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:20 11:23 |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD7309-WesternKingBird |
© 2011 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Setting up territory near Cibola NWR along the Colorado River, south of Blythe, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:28 14:09 |
Location:
Oxbow Camp |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X8329-WesternKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: Near Cibola NWR along the Colorado River, south of Blythe, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:28 14:08 |
Location:
|
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) |
Description: Setting up territory near Cibola NWR along the Colorado River, south of Blythe, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:28 14:05 |
Location:
Oxbow Camp |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X8285-WesternKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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 |
Location:
Narrows |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X7207-WesternKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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 |
Location:
Narrows |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X7206-WesternKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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 |
Location:
Garner Valley |
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) |
Description: Parent bird preparing to feed grounded nestling. Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:30 8:27 |
Location:
Garner Valley |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Garner Valley |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Garner Valley |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
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) |
Description: Portal Road at the foot of the Chiricahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:27 9:59 |
Location:
Portal |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_1040WesternKingBird |
© 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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 |
Location:
Fondo |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: WesternKingbird-_D5X5173 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
Description: At the Kenneth Denman Wildlife Area, Rogue Valley Game Management Area, near Eagle Point, Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:29 12:32 |
Location:
Ken Denman Preserve |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729718-WesternKingBird |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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 |
Location:
Bridgeport |
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) |
Description: Tecolote Canyon Reserve east of Mission Bay. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:04:04 10:24 |
Location:
Fiesta Island |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Morris Creek |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Bridgeport |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Bridgeport |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Bridgeport |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Bridgeport |
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) |
Description: Rockhouse Truck Trail near Clark Lake in the Anza Borrego State Park. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:27 8:18 |
Location:
Rockhouse Canyon |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5163-WesternKingBird |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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 |
Location:
Birding Island |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X6622-WesternKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis) |
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 |
Location:
Bridgeport |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Botines |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Bridgeport |
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) |
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 |
Location:
Garner Valley |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5944-WesternKingBird |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |

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