Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tyrannus ("absolute ruler") melancholicus ("bad tempered")

 

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa
Weight: 39g  /  Length: 22cm  /  Wingspan: 34-41cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most widespread and common species of Costa Rica, and indeed Central to South America, with the only continental country from Mexico Southwards it's absent from is Chile. They are primarily insectivores, swooping from exposed perches such as branches or overhead wires to catch insects in mid air, although they will also take fruit. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
SUBSPECIES: T. m. satrapa, T. m. despotes, T. m. melancholicus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Tirano Tropical (Tropical Tyrant)

Widespread and Common
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Alajuela

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Tyrannus ("absolute ruler") verticalis ("crown of head")

Adult Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) at North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 40g  /  Length: 20-24cm  /  Wingspan: 39cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A more colourful species than the Eastern Kingbird, with a lemon-yellow belly, like their counterpart they also aggressively defend their territory from larger birds like hawks.  Their range is centred on the US in Summer, but in Winter they migrate to Central America and the tip of Florida. This range has expanded thanks to humans as planting trees on the Great Plains has allowed them to spread into habitat previously unsuited.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Summer breeding species across the Western USA
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tyrannus ("absolute ruler") tyrannus ("absolute ruler")

Adult Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) at Buffalo Creek National Park, Minnesota, US - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 33-55g /  Length: 19-23cm  /  Wingspan: 33-38cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The more common of the two Kingbird species seen on the trip, the Eastern Kingbird was fairly conspicuous a presence as they perch prominantly near their nest sites. Despite being a member of the usually small and timid flycatcher family, eastern kingbirds have a reputation as aggressive defenders of their territories from species like corvids, and as such other small birds will often nest near them for the security benefits. 

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Found across most ofthe Southern half of Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta.

UNITED STATES - Summer breeding species across all but the South-West of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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