About Tyrannus tyrannus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Adult eastern kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) have grey-black upperparts, light underparts, a long black tail with a white tip, and long pointed wings. They have a rarely visible red patch on the crown. This species is average-sized for a kingbird, measuring 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) in body length, with a wingspan of 33–38 cm (13–15 in), and weighing 33–55 g (1.2–1.9 oz). Their call is a high-pitched, buzzing, unmusical chirp that is often compared to the sound of an electric fence.
Their breeding habitat consists of open areas across North America. Eastern kingbirds build sturdy cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs, and sometimes build them on top of stumps or poles. They aggressively defend their nesting territory, even against much larger birds. The species migrates in flocks to South America for the non-breeding season. There are three confirmed records of this species occurring in Europe, all from the British Isles: two from Ireland in October 2012 and September 2013, and one from Scotland in September 2016.
For feeding, eastern kingbirds wait on an open perch and fly out to catch insects in flight, and sometimes hover to pick prey off vegetation. They also eat berries and fruit, mostly during their time on wintering grounds.
