Tyrannus melancholicus
adult
Compared to its close relatives in the genus Tyrannus, the Tropical Kingbird is paler overall and has a larger bill, shorter wings, and a forked tail. The sexes are similar. Adults have a gray head, whitish throat, and dark mask. The back is greenish grey and the breast is greenish yellow, grading to bright yellow on the belly and undertail. The wings are brown with pale buff feather margins. In flight, the bright yellow underwing coverts are striking. Juveniles are similar to adults but the wing feather margins are more obviously buff.
As its name suggests, the Tropical Kingbird’s main range is south of the region covered by this book. It is present in southern Arizona as a breeding species mainly from April to August; in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas it is present year-round. The species perches on bare branches and roadside wires, from where it flycatches and drops to the ground after prey.
adult
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 9–9.5 in (23–24 cm)
FOOD Insects, other invertebrates, and fruit
HABITAT Open woodland
STATUS Local summer visitor and rare resident
VOICE Song (sung at dawn) comprises a series of tlip notes, ending with a call-like trill. Call is a chirruping trill
