Loggerhead Kingbird

Tyrannus caudifasciatus

A large flycatcher, mostly found in wooded areas, where it hunts from middle to upper level perches. It is grayish above and whitish below, and usually has a blackish crown and face. Most populations of this species have grayish tail band. Resembles Eastern Kingbird, but Eastern has a bolder white tail band and smaller bill than Loggerhead. The similar Gray Kingbird has a paler head with a dusky mask and a notched tail, whereas the tail is usually squared-off in Loggerhead. Giant Kingbird has a heftier bill and lacks whitish tail band present on Loggerhead. Calls include various trills and chatters.

Identification

This large kingbird measures 23 cm (9.1 in) long. It is dark grey above and white below. The head is black while the throat and cheeks are white. Like many kingbird species, the loggerhead possesses an orange or yellow crown patch, but it is well concealed and rarely visible in the field. The tail is squared and ends with a buffy-white band.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Tyrannus caudifasciatus
Authority
d'Orbigny, 1839
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Tyrannidae
Genus
Tyrannus

Range and habitat

It is found in throughout the West Indies, in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and, very rarely, in southern Florida. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Flores Heleia

Flores Heleia

Heleia crassirostris

A gray-and-white songbird  with a diagnostic head pattern. Dark olive above and clean white below, with dark cheeks that contrast with the conspicuous pale eye and a white forehead bleeding into dark speckles on the crown. Juveniles show a plain buff forehead and crown. Found singly or in pairs in understory of forest and forest edge in lowlands and foothills, frequenting mixed-species flocks. Confined to the Lesser Sundas. Calls include soft “chup” and weak “pew” notes. Striking, melodious warbling song is punctuated with repeated clear trills and staccato “wit-wit-wit” phrases.

Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher

Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher

Polioptila lactea

Distinctive gnatcatcher. Males have a glossy black cap and are gray above with a white face and yellow-washed underparts. Females have a gray cap. Forages acrobatically in the canopy and at the edges of humid forests and woodlands. May be seen alone or with mixed-species flocks. The song is a fast, thin “weet-weet-weet-weet.”

Gray-breasted Spurfowl

Gray-breasted Spurfowl

Pternistis rufopictus

A large gray-and-brown francolin with bare red skin on the throat and around the eyes. Also note the red bill, the dark gray legs, and the chestnut, buff, and black markings along the sides of the belly. Pale patches in the outer wings are conspicuous in flight. Found in fairly dry thorn savanna, woodland, and thickets, usually in pairs or small groups. Similar to Red-necked Francolin, but there is little overlap in range, and separated by the brown legs and many plumage details. Also similar to Yellow-necked Francolin, but easily separated by the red or sometimes orange (rather than yellow) throat. The call is a fading series of grating “kreaaak” notes. 

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