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Cassin's Kingbird


Cassin's Kingbird
Photo Information
Copyright: Luis Leal (Luis52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2011-07-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D90, 80-200 f2.8D ED AF Nikkor+1.5X Kenko
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2011-07-05 9:26
Viewed: 4030
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Thanks to Steve Pryor (cuckooroller) Gallery Moderator for the proper ID on this bird.


The Cassin's Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans, is a large Tyrant flycatcher.

Adults have a gray head with slightly darker cheeks; a dark unforked tail with a buffy fringe and gray-olive underparts. They have a pale throat and deep yellow lower breast.

Juveniles are duller and have pale edges on their wings.

They build a bulky nest on a horizontal tree limb in mid-story or the canopy of trees. The three to five spotted white eggs have an incubation period of 18 to 19 days.

In the summer these birds can be found in California and from Montana to Utah, along the eastern Rocky Mountains. Their habitat includes rangelands and savannas.

These birds migrate to their winter quarters between Southern California and northern Central America. They are permanent residents in south-central Mexico, and their main wintering ranges are west of the Sea of Cortez on Baja California Sur, and east of the sea on the mainland of western Mexico.

The Cassin's Kingbird primarily feeds on insects it preys upon from high perches by hawking. It also eats berries and fruits in lesser quantities.

The call is a high-pitched shorter followed by a longer chirp, sounding like a 'chi-beer'.

Mating Ritual
In early spring, presumably after having chosen (or shown up with) their mate, they launch into a peculiar dance. With excited high-pitched calls, they hover in unison, wings outstretched, over a favorite perch. This dance takes place several times a day over several days, over several separate sites in an area covering two or 3 acres (12,000 m2). The sites chosen for the dance appear to be the same sites used as hunting perches during the spring and summer.
The Cassin's kingbird and the western kingbird are similar in appearance. The Cassin's is a little larger than the western and the upper parts are a darker gray than the western but the most distinctive difference between the birds is that the Cassin's has a thin white strip along lower edge of the tail feathers and the western has a thin white strip that runs along the edge of the tail feathers.

Saludos
Luis52.
bungbing, soccer has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cuckooroller: Steve.Luis52 1 07-09 06:28
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 806 W: 0 N: 4092] (22535)
  • [2011-07-05 9:47]

Hi Luis,
Splendid photo of this interesting Bird, great sharp and fine details, natural colors, TFS!

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2011-07-05 10:09]

Hello Luis,
Fantastic photo of this Tropical Kingbird in excellent sharpness and details. beautiful natural colours. Very nice pose and composition. Good blurred BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Luis,
Excellent capture of this bird taken in very nice pose with lovely colours and perfect sharp details. Well done!
Regards,
Mircea

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2011-07-05 10:58]

Hi Luis,
Nice shot.Nice colours good composition and sharpness details.
Excellent background.
Regards Jiri.

  • Great 
  • ana974 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 48 N: 968] (4857)
  • [2011-07-05 11:14]

Hola amigo Luis!
Que bueno verte de nuevo por aqui!Que tal tu exposición?
Tus belas fotos hacen falta qui en TN! Esa por exemplo, que linda está! Que guapissimo pajaro ! Que belo BG y excelente nitideza! Muy bueno trabajo, Luis!
Un abrazo de tu amiga,
aNa

Hello Luis,
A beautiful picture of this lovely bird, superb clarity, lovely pose and nice highlighted eye, very well captured,
Thanks for sharing and have a nice evening,
Best Regards,
Bungbing.

Another excellent bird photo with your typical soft light and colours Luis!! Beautiful and interesting bird, very good composition and impressive sharpness,
Regards,
Christodoulos

Luis,

A well composed pic that is sharp and shows good detail of the subject. I like the lighting, POV, DOF and BG.
TFS,
Sheriff

Luis, this is such a beautiful shot. I love the soft background. Bill

Luis,
For several reasons, including location, bill strength, extent of white on chin and upper throat, presence of white projecting back under the eye, and squared-off tail terminus, this is not Tyrannus melancholicus.

Tyrannus vociferans (Cassin's Kingbird).

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2011-07-09 5:30]

Hi Luis,
very lovely bird rendered in excellent sharpness and clarity. The slight glance by the bird is so well recorded to give a nice view.
well taken in excellent composition.

Regards,
Foozi

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