Giant kingbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant kingbird |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tyrannus
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| Species: |
cubensis
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The giant kingbird (Tyrannus cubensis) is a special type of bird that lives only in Cuba. It belongs to a bird family called tyrant flycatchers.
Contents
About the Giant Kingbird
What Does It Look Like?
The giant kingbird is a medium-sized bird, usually about 23 to 26 centimeters (9 to 10 inches) long. Even though it's not the longest tyrant flycatcher, it's quite heavy! It can weigh around 93.6 grams (3.3 ounces), and sometimes even up to 108 grams (3.8 ounces). This makes it almost as heavy as the largest tyrant flycatcher, the great shrike tyrant.
Where Does It Live?
This bird is found only in Cuba. In the past, it also lived in the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas, but it's no longer found there. Sometimes, a few birds might fly to Mexico or Hispaniola (Haiti), but that's rare.
Giant kingbirds like to live in tall forests, especially pine forests and wooded areas near rivers. You can also find them in open woodlands, swamps, and savannas. They have even been seen in cloud forests, which are forests high up in the mountains often covered in clouds.
Why Is It Important?
The giant kingbird is an important part of Cuba's natural environment. Sadly, its home is shrinking because of habitat loss. This means that the places where it lives are being destroyed or changed, which makes it harder for these birds to survive.
See also
In Spanish: Pitirre real para niños
