White-throated Kingbird

Tyrannus albogularis

The White-throated Kingbird (Tyrannus albogularis) is a striking, medium-sized Neotropical flycatcher, typically measuring 20-22 cm (7.9-8.7 in) in length and weighing around 30-40 grams. Its most distinctive field mark is its clean white throat, sharply contrasting with a dark head and cheeks, a dark, relatively short bill, and a pale yellow belly that transitions to olive-green on its back and upperparts. The tail is dark, slightly notched, and lacks any prominent patterns, while the wings ...

Habitat

This species primarily inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, savannas, riverine forests, clearings, and agricultural areas, typically found in lowlands up to approximately 1000 meters (3,300 feet) elevation.

Diet

The diet of the White-throated Kingbird consists primarily of large insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, flies, bees, and wasps, captured through flycatching. It also occasionally consumes small fruits and berries.

Behavior

The White-throated Kingbird is a highly diurnal and active species, typically observed perching conspicuously on exposed branches or power lines, scanning for prey. Its primary foraging strategy is 'sally-gleaning' or 'sally-striking,' where it darts out from a perch to catch insects in mid-air o...

Range

The White-throated Kingbird has an extensive distribution across South America, primarily within the Amazon Basin and adjacent regions. Its breeding and resident range spans from eastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, south through much of northern and eastern ...

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Fun Facts

- The White-throated Kingbird is a quintessential 'sally-striker,' launching acrobatic flights from a perch to snatch insects directly from the air or foliage. - Like many kingbirds, it is remarkably aggressive, often harassing and chasing much larger birds, including hawks and vultures, away fro...

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