Eastern kingbird

The eastern kingbird lives up to its name. Small and sharp, dark grey above and white below, it will chase away hawks, crows, and anything else it considers a threat, riding on the back of a bird many times its size. A thin white band on the tip of the tail is a good clue to the species.

Kingbirds arrive in Manitoba in May and perch on fence posts, wires, and the tops of shrubs, making short flights to catch insects in mid-air. They build a neat cup nest in a tree or a shrub, often near water. In fall they switch to eating fruit and fly to the Amazon basin for the winter.

To learn more about this bird and its habitat, visit the eastern kingbird page at All About Birds.

Here are some of my favourite frames of this bird.

Field notes in photographs

Eastern kingbird Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the eastern kingbird in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.