Couch's Kingbird
Tyrannus couchii
Large yellow-bellied flycatcher with gray head, dull greenish back, and brownish wings and tail. Primarily a Mexican species, with range extending north into Texas and south to Belize and Guatemala. Occurs in brushy woodlands and other semiopen habitats, often near water. Listen for single “pick” or buzzy “breer” calls. Nearly identical to Tropical Kingbird, which overlaps throughout range; best separated by voice. Larger and longer-billed than Western and Cassin’s Kingbird; also note paler brownish tail.
Identification
Couch's kingbird is about 7 inches long. It has a large head and bill. It has a dark, forked tail. The head is pale gray with contrasting darker cheeks. The upperparts are grayish-olive. It has a pale throat and a darker breast. The lower breast is bright yellow. Juveniles have browner underparts than the adult and pale edges to their wings.
Taxonomy
Genus: Tyrannus; Family: Tyrannidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Tyrannus couchii
- Authority
- Baird, SF, 1858
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Tyrannus
Range and habitat
Couch's kingbird is native to southern Texas, eastern Mexico, Belize, and northeastern Guatemala, living in lightly wooded areas, such as sparse forests, suburban areas, thorn forests, and edges of wooded streams. Couch's kingbird likes to live near water, especially rivers, and can often be found near roadsides and forest edges. A vagrant individual was sighted in New York City in December 2014 and caught the attention of many birdwatchers.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Yellow-billed Giant-Honeyeater
Gymnomyza viridis
A very large, robust honeyeater. Entirely drab grayish-olive, with yellowish wings and tail and a bright yellow bill and eye-ring. Dependent on primary mature forest, mostly in the lowlands, but less commonly above 600 meters of elevation. Similar to Northern Wattled-Honeyeater, but much larger, and overall more yellow with a distinctive pale yellow bill. Does not vocalize often, but most common call is a very, very loud, ringing, far-carrying “kee-too.”
Aripuana Antwren
Herpsilochmus stotzi
Recently described Amazonian antwren. Males are gray with a bold white eyebrow and a black crown, wings, and tail. Females have a pale rusty forehead patch. Occurs primarily in white sand forest, but also in humid forest, where it forages in the canopy, often with mixed-species flocks. The song is a rolling trill. The similar Predicted Antwren has a longer song; males have more black on the back and females have a more rusty forehead.
Flores Green-Pigeon
Treron floris
A small, largely green pigeon with bold, scattered pale markings on its wings. Adults show largely pale bills while immatures have dark bills. Small groups found in varied habitats with trees, from forests to open woodlands. In most of its range it is the only Treron green-pigeon, but where it overlaps with Pink-necked Green-Pigeon, note the extensive pale markings on the wing of Flores Green-Pigeon and the absence of a pink-orange breast patch. Song is a series of soft whistles, “woo-wo-OW,” rising at end. Also gives harsher guttural notes.
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