Thick-billed kingbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thick-billed kingbird |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tyrannus
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| Species: |
crassirostris
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The thick-billed kingbird (Tyrannus crassirostris) is a large bird that belongs to the tyrant flycatcher family. These birds live in parts of the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala.
You can find them in places like southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. They also live across western Mexico, all the way down to western Guatemala.
Contents
About the Thick-billed Kingbird
This kingbird is a big tyrant flycatcher. Adult birds are about 23.5 cm (9.3 in) long. Their upper parts are a dusty olive-brown color. Their undersides are lighter, from dull white to pale yellow.
They have a long, dark brown or black tail. A special feature is their large, thick bill. This bill is bigger than those of other kingbirds. It helps you tell them apart easily. They also have a yellow patch on their head. However, this patch is not often seen.
What They Sound Like
The thick-billed kingbird has a loud call. It sounds like a clear, whistled pwaareeet.
Where They Live
Thick-billed kingbirds like dry or partly dry areas. They often live near streams in canyons. You can also find them in open areas close to water. They especially like places with sycamore trees.
Nesting and Young
These birds build their nests on tree branches. They usually place the nest close to the tree trunk. Nests are often built more than 6 meters (about 20 feet) high. The female bird lays three to five eggs.
What They Eat
Thick-billed kingbirds mostly eat insects. They are very good at catching them. They wait on an open perch, often high in a tree. When an insect flies by, they quickly fly out to catch it in the air. This way of hunting is called hawking.
Migration
Most thick-billed kingbirds stay in their homes all year. But birds that live in the United States move south for the winter. They fly to warmer places until spring comes again.
See also
In Spanish: Tirano piquigrueso para niños
