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Tyrannus verticalis

Say, 1822

Western Kingbird

G5Secure Found in 184 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104787
Element CodeABPAE52050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyTyrannidae
GenusTyrannus
Other Common Names
Tirano Pálido (ES) Tyran de l'Ouest (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-10
Change Date1996-12-02
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
BREEDING: southwestern Canada south to northern Baja California and northwestern mainland of Mexico, and west-central Texas, and east to northwestern Ohio, rarely to north-central Missouri. NON-BREEDING: mainly from Mexico south to Costa Rica, and in small numbers in coastal southeastern U.S.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

See Kaufman (1992, Am. Birds 46:323-326) for information on identification.

Habitat

Open and partly open country, especially savanna, agricultural lands, and areas with scattered trees (AOU 1983), also desert. In western Nebraska, used habitat types have large, widely spaced cottonwood trees with abundant grass cover below (Bergin 1992). BREEDING: Nests in trees (usually out on a limb, sometimes near trunk); may also nest on shrubs, fence posts, or buildings. Nest usually about 4.5-9 m from ground. In Nebraska, nests in larger, taller trees with more available perches (Bergin 1992).

Ecology

May drive hawks, crows, and jays away from nest. Foraging range at least 400 meters from nest (Hespenheide 1964).

Reproduction

Clutch size 3-5 (often 4). Incubation 12-14 days. Nestlings tended by both parents. Two or more pairs may nest in same tree.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedSavannaGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldDesertCropland/hedgerow
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5B
ProvinceRankNative
South CarolinaSNAYes
MissouriSNRBYes
AlabamaSNRNYes
IdahoS5BYes
New MexicoS5B,S5NYes
Navajo NationS4BYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
North CarolinaSNAYes
ArkansasS1B,S1NYes
UtahS4BYes
NevadaS5BYes
ArizonaS5Yes
KansasS5BYes
TexasS3BYes
OregonS5Yes
South DakotaS5BYes
NebraskaS5Yes
IowaS3B,S5NYes
North DakotaSNRBYes
MichiganSNRNYes
OhioSNAYes
WisconsinSNAYes
MontanaS5BYes
ColoradoS5BYes
ConnecticutSNAYes
WashingtonS5BYes
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
MassachusettsS1NYes
OklahomaSNRBYes
LouisianaSNAYes
IllinoisS1Yes
MississippiSNAYes
MinnesotaSNRBYes
GeorgiaS3Yes
New JerseyS4NYes
FloridaSNAYes
CanadaN5B
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS4BYes
AlbertaS4BYes
SaskatchewanS4BYes
OntarioS1BYes
ManitobaS3BYes
Roadless Areas (184)
Alaska (1)
AreaForestAcres
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Arizona (14)
AreaForestAcres
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Burro CanyonKaibab National Forest19,928
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
California (57)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Cahuilla MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,952
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Dobie FlatModoc National Forest15,079
Ferguson RidgeSierra National Forest6,104
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
La PanzaLos Padres National Forest4,954
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. HoffmanModoc National Forest9,780
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest7,771
North MountainStanislaus National Forest7,856
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
QuatalLos Padres National Forest7,253
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
Trumbull PeakStanislaus National Forest6,164
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (2)
AreaForestAcres
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Idaho (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Montana (17)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Big LogHelena National Forest8,954
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area OcdGallatin National Forest35,048
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
HolterHelena National Forest1,965
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
Nevada (17)
AreaForestAcres
Aurora CraterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,689
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
ButtermilkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,373
CooperHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,889
Larken LakeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,159
Long ValleyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest50,472
MckinneyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,790
Mt. HicksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,698
North Shoshone PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest40,667
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
SaulsburyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,957
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
Warm SpringsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest29,540
New Mexico (10)
AreaForestAcres
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
North Dakota (3)
AreaForestAcres
Easy HillDakota Prairie Grasslands7,344
Kinley PlateauDakota Prairie Grasslands16,900
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
Oregon (5)
AreaForestAcres
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
ReservoirWallowa-Whitman National Forest13,641
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
South Dakota (2)
AreaForestAcres
Cheyenne RiverBuffalo Gap National Grassland7,572
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (36)
AreaForestAcres
0401002Ashley National Forest36,113
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418017Uinta National Forest19,631
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418029Uinta National Forest15,673
Boulder MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest8,852
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Box - Death HollowDixie National Forest3,175
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
Casto BluffDixie National Forest87,466
Clarkston Mtn.Caribou National Forest7,099
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Dairy ForkManti-Lasal National Forest30,222
Joe LottFishlake National Forest19,826
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
MogotsuDixie National Forest16,762
Mollens HollowWasatch-Cache National Forest17,690
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
Wayne WonderlandFishlake National Forest12,395
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Washington (4)
AreaForestAcres
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Willow SpringsUmatilla National Forest10,414
Wyoming (9)
AreaForestAcres
0401035Ashley National Forest5,465
0401036Ashley National Forest6,309
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
South Wyoming RangeBridger-Teton National Forest85,776
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
References (26)
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  26. Zook, J. L. 2002. Distribution maps of the birds of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Unpublished.