This week for Flora and Fauna Friday, we stand before the monochrome majesty of the meadow hawk, the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).
The Eastern Kingbird can be found throughout the Eastern United States from spring through summer and into fall. In the Lowcountry of South Carolina, they reappear in April and depart on their winter migration come October. Eastern Kingbirds are simply colored, yet distinctly marked. Slate-black back and snow-white belly, a black cowl across the head and a white beard beneath, and a black tail with a white trailing edge. Their plumage is just two colors but is worn well, like a tailored tuxedo, to make them stand out with contrast among our eastern songbirds. Our Kingbird is a member of the Tyrant Flycatchers of family Tyrannidae. In fact, the Eastern Kingbird is the type species that sets the mold for their whole family. Our Flycatchers here in the Southeast share many similar traits: an upright posture, a slightly hooked bill, a large mouth, good eyesight, and agile wings. They use these common features to hawk, grabbing prey from the air.
Eastern Kingbirds love large open habitats including prairies, pastures, farm fields, meadows, marsh edges, clearcuts, open savannas, barrens, and beaches. Here they will post up on a post, hang on a wire, or cling to a limb to survey their kingdom. They’ll dart into their domain to snatch insects out of the air all throughout the day, only deviating to dash at intruders and trespassers. Not only do Eastern Kingbirds fiercely defend their territory from other Kingbirds, they also have a penchant for harassing Hawks who hover over their home. Crows, Owls, and Eagles oft aren’t spared from their wrath and will likewise get an earful if they loiter too long. Eastern Kingbirds, like other Flycatchers, have fairly simple vocalizations. Their call is a short, sharp, high-pitched, metallic buzzing, “T’Zee” and their song is a frantic jumble of high-pitched, crisp metallic notes, often bouncing up and down, ending with a buzzing scream.
