| Common Name | Western Kingbird |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tyrannus verticalis |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 06/15/2020 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Richard Littauer |
| Mailing Address | 10 Monsignor Crosby Avenue #4 Montpelier, VT 05602 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 11/22/2020 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | Chip Darmstadt. |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44.28741 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -72.51794 |
| Place Name | Karen Saudek's House |
| Township | East Montpelier |
| County | Washington |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 02:39 PM |
| Length of Time Observed | 45 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 200 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 20 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Clear. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | 8x42 Binoculars, Nikon D500 with 500mm lens. |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Lifer. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | A field with long grass and fruit trees surrounded by wire to keep deer away. The field had some large trees in it which the Kingbird occasionally used as perches. |
| Behaviors Observed | The bird fed and flitted between multiple roosts round the field. It was a shy bird, and did not like being approached; it would flit to another post, and then sit for a while, before doing a small flight loop to catch insects, in the manner of Kingbirds. |
| Description of Vocalizations | A single polyphonic 'pip' was heard and recorded, after 20~ minutes of waiting with my mic running for it to vocalize. Compared notes using eBird, Nathan Pieplow's book, and Birds of the World. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | Chip sent out the good word; I got in my car and revved up the engine. When I got there, Chip was about to head off, but he showed me the bird by walking me down a small mown path through the field. Karen was welcoming, as were her daughter and grandchild who came over to visit at one point. The Kingbird was easily seen and identified. I took photos and spent over 20 minutes trying to get audio, while also photographing and recording various other birds in the area. It did not vocalize much, at all, but continued to switch perches and perform flycatcher loops. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Robin-sized bird, shaped like a tyrant flycatcher. |
| Head | Uniform grey head, possibly with darker lores and whitish throat. Black eye. |
| Feet & Bill | Black straight slightly hooked bill, black feet and legs. |
| Upper Back | Brown (grey near head, black near rump). |
| Lower Back & Rump | Transitioning from brown to black on uppertail coverts near retrices. |
| Wings | Broad wings with brownish feathers. Emargination of outer primaries. White edging on tertials, and some white also on greater coverts. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | White chest, bright yellow belly and flanks, yellow undertail coverts. |
| Tail | Black retrices, with outer retrix with white anterior vane. r1 tipped with white, somewhat fresher, showing recent summer molt. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Overall coloration easily used to eliminate white-bellied Eastern Kingbird. Black tail feathers with outer white retrix used to eliminate similar Cassin's. |
| Other Notes & Comments | Adult male; sharp tapering of p10, and recent molt in r1. Following Pyle. Note worn edging on non-molted retrices. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | During the Observation |
Vermont Atlas of Life Partners
