The Western Kingbird, as its name implies, can be found across a wide area of the western United States and southern Canada. This colorful counterpart of the Eastern Kingbird is a member of the tyrant flycatcher family, a huge group of New World birds that includes species ranging from the fiery little Vermillion Flycatcher of the American southwest, and Central and South America to the Cock-tailed Tyrant, a resident of South American savannas.

The Western Kingbird is a large flycatcher, a bit bigger than an Eastern Kingbird. Males and females look alike, with a pale gray head, dark lores and bill, and an indistinct white malar (throat) stripe. Its light gray breast blends into a yellow belly and undertail coverts, and the back is olive-green with darker wing coverts. The square-tipped tail is black with narrow white edges on the outer tail feathers. It has a reddish-orange central crown patch, only visible when the bird raises it when agitated or on the defensive.

Although many bird species were adversely impacted by the waves of European settlement that spread across North America, the Western Kingbird continued to to survive and thrive — in fact, survey data show that their populations are increasing slightly across most of their nesting range.

European settlers altered native habitats as they expanded across the American West, cutting down forests in some places and planting trees in others. Increasingly sophisticated technology added utility poles, communications towers, windmills, and wires to the landscape.

The Western Kingbird's breeding range expanded along with all this activity, as these human alterations inadvertently provided habitat for the bird. Manmade structures and planted trees on formerly open prairie provided more nesting sites as well as additional spots on which perch and hunt for insects. In areas where forests were cleared, the Western Kingbird gained additional open habitat.

The Western Kingbird has a high, squeaky song sometimes described as pidik pik pidik PEEKado. Its shrill, sputtering call is a rising series of notes: widik pik widi pik pik. It also has a sharp, hard kit call.

Song:

Call:

Single Kit Call:

Although usually a solitary species during the breeding season, the Western Kingbird will often nest near, or even in the same tree, as other birds, including near relatives such as the Eastern Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. It has even been observed nesting in the same tree as raptors such as Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawks — perhaps for extra protection against predators? 

The male Western Kingbird usually returns to the breeding grounds first. He quickly  establishes a territory, which he fiercely defends against other males. As part of his courtship repertoire, he performs a “Tumble Flight,” where he flys high, stalls, then quickly falls downwards through the air, twisting, tumbling, and flipping while vocalizing.  He then returns to his original perch and starts the performance once again. Courting males perform this unique flight at dawn and dusk; one performing male often spurs nearby rivals into their own courtship flights.

The female Western Kingbird selects a mate and his territory soon after arriving on the breeding grounds. After mating, she builds the nest while the male guards their territory. She hides her nest within the tree canopy on a horizontal branch; in the absence of a suitable tree, she will nest on a manmade structure such as a utility pole. The nest is a bulky, cup-shaped structure of plant stems, grasses, twigs, and cottonwood bark and fiber, lined with softer materials including wool, hair, feathers, and bits of string or cloth. 

Once her nest is complete the female Western Kingbird lays a clutch of 3-6 brown-spotted white eggs, which she incubates for approximately two weeks. When the young hatch, she broods them for another 16 to 17 days until they fledge. Both parents feed the hatchlings. The young birds remain in the vicinity of their nest and parents for several weeks after fledging. This species usually only raises one clutch per season.

Like other tyrant flycatchers, the Western Kingbird feeds chiefly on flying insects. It is an accomplished aerial hunter and feeder, snagging its prey mid-flight or pouncing upon it from a perch.

The Western Kingbird, true to its name, breeds from southwestern Canada down the Pacific Coast of the United States and east as far as Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Its breeding range extends south into Mexico as well. It migrates to wintering areas in southern Mexico and Central America. Since the early 20th century its winter range has expanded to southern Florida. 

Western Kingbirds inhabit open grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs to provide perches, including scrublands, sagebrush flats, open riparian corridors, pastures and other open agricultural areas. They can also be found in open suburban and urban areas, using manmade structures such as buildings, utility poles, fence posts, antennas, and wires for perches and nesting spots.

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Since the Western Kingbird lives and nests in open (often agricultural) fields and often catches its insect prey over and around pesticide-treated areas, it is particularly vulnerable to pesticide poisoning.  

Although its populations are increasing, the Western Kingbird would still benefit from protection and restoration of riparian habitats and shelterbelts of trees throughout its breeding range.

This species may also be the victim of fatal collisions with vehicles, man-made structures, and window glass, particularly during its migrations.

Policies enacted by the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have a huge impact on U.S. birds. You can help shape these rules for the better by telling lawmakers to prioritize birds, bird habitat, and bird-friendly measures. To get started, visit ABC's Action Center.

Living a bird-friendly life can have an immediate impact on the birds around you. Doing so can be as easy as adding native plants to your garden, avoiding pesticides, and keeping cats indoors. To learn more, visit our Bird-Friendly Life page.

American Bird Conservancy and our Migratory Bird Joint Venture partners have improved conservation management on more than 8.5 million acres of U.S. bird habitat — an area larger than the state of Maryland — over the last ten years. This is a monumental undertaking, requiring the support of many, and you can help by making a gift today.