Anguilla Backyard Birding Part 6
Gray Kingbird
Known locally as the Chinchiry or Chincherry, the Gray Kingbird belongs to the family of Tyrant Flycatchers—in this case - Tyrannus dominicensis. Found from southern Florida and the Carolinas to northern South America, this bird is a breeding resident of Anguilla.
Its broad, bristle-covered bill makes it well adapted to catching prey out of midair. Birds of the World describes its diet as follows:
“Large flying insects (beetles [Coleoptera], bees and wasps [Hymenoptera], dragonflies [Odonata], various other insects), some berries and fruits, and lizards (Sprunt 1942, Workers Of The Writers Program Of The Work Projects Administration In The State Of Florida 1951).”
This species is particularly fond of the dark maroon barries of the Turpentine Tree, and you can often find them using it as a launch point for hunting.
Breeding begins around April and continues into the summer months. The nest site is generally in a tree. In Anguilla, however, the favored location is on telephone poles.
The female selects the nest site. She also builds the nest from twigs and sticks while the male guards.
Egg color varies from creamy white to light pink. The clutch is usually 3 to 4 in size. The female incubates the eggs for at least 14 days while the male stands guard nearby. Chicks are born with a downy fluff and are cream-colored. Both parents feed the chicks.
Chicks fledge between 16 and 18 days after hatching. They are dependent on both parents for 3 to 5 weeks after fledging.
Gray Kingbirds are never more fierce than when defending the nest or young. I have seen them attack Great Egrets that get too close to the nest site. The male will chase the intruder off for some distance to ensure the safety of the nest.
Hurricane Irma took its toll on the Kingbirds in Anguilla. In the years since the storm, they have made a strong comeback. It is great to hear their distinctive voice across Anguilla again.
Enjoy a few seconds of Gray Kingbird feeding time in my YouTube companion reel.
I will be on the lookout for gray Kingbird... great photography! Thank you for sharing.