Day 14: Western Kingbird

Last weekend, while we were going to the eastern shore of Maryland, we stopped to see a Western Kingbird. Normally, these flycatchers breed in the western U.S. and winter in southern Mexico and Central America, so this was a rarity for Maryland.

Adults are grey-olive on the upperparts with a grey head, and the underparts are light orange-yellow on the lower breast and belly. There are several different types of kingbirds, and most look pretty similar. The Western Kingbird is distinguished by its smaller bill and the white outer edges of its two outer tail feathers.

The name kingbird is derived from the bird's "take-charge" attitude. The Western Kingbird vigorously defends a small territory around its nest, and often mobs hawks and owls that perch or fly nearby.