Western Kingbird Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWestern Kingbird
Large, hefty flycatcher with a thick bill, a pale gray head, and a bright yellow belly.
© Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, May 24, 2010Large, hefty flycatcher with a bright yellow belly, pale gray head, and whitish throat. Note white edging on outer tail feathers.
© Tyler Ficker / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 03, 2019Sits upright on exposed perches and scans for insects. Note white outer tail feathers and uniform gray throat and chin. Often returns to the same perch after flying out after prey.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 25, 2015Large flycatcher with a long tail and thick bill. Note pale gray head and dark tail with white outer tail feathers (visible in flight).
© Sean Williams / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 03, 2019The tail is black with white outer tail feathers that are especially conspicuous in flight.
© Sean Williams / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 03, 2019Found in open habitats such as grasslands, deserts, sagebrush flats, and agricultural fields, where they perch on utility lines, fences, and trees.
© Kalin Ocaña / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, June 09, 2018Similar SpeciesCassin's Kingbird
Cassin's Kingbirds have a darker gray chest and head than Western Kingbirds. The tail feathers on Cassin's are tipped in white while Western Kingbirds show with outer tail feathers in flight.
© Roger Clark / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, May 21, 2017Similar SpeciesTropical Kingbird
The yellow on the chest of Tropical Kingbirds extends farther up the chest than it does on Western Kingbirds. In flight, Tropical Kingbirds have a plain tail while Western Kingbirds have white outer tail feathers.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryPanamá, November 09, 2002Similar SpeciesCouch's Kingbird
The yellow on the chest of Couch's Kingbirds extends farther up the chest than it does on Western Kingbirds. In flight, Couch's Kingbirds have a plain tail while Western Kingbirds have white outer tail feathers.
© Carlos Echeverría / Macaulay LibraryPetén, December 08, 2016Similar SpeciesAsh-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatchers have a paler yellow belly than Western Kingbirds. They also have cinnamon in the wings and the tail that Western Kingbirds lack.
© Alex Burdo / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 18, 2016Similar SpeciesGreat Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatchers have a paler yellow belly and a browner crown than Western Kingbirds. They also have cinnamon in the wings and the tail that Western Kingbirds lack.
© Carlos Echeverría / Macaulay LibraryPetén, February 26, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Tyrant Flycatchers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Tyrannidae)
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