Tropical Kingbird – Rare Maryland Sighting
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Yes, I’ll be the first to admit it. A local rare bird sighting had me twitching! 😁
Seen for three days at Blackwater NWR, I was on the road at dawn to drive the 1.5 hours in hopes to see and most importantly photograph it.
Welcome to my bird lifer list #247 the Tropical Kingbird! 🤗😊🤗
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Tropical Kingbird (lifer #247)
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On October 28th, this bird was first seen at the refuge and identified as a Couch’s Kingbird, which that in itself was rare and exciting for Maryland.
Several bird experts were onsite the morning of October 30th and were able to listen to it in song which verified and changed the identity to the even rarer Tropical Kingbird.
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Tropical Kingbird
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The Tropical Kingbird’s normal range is the middle of Central America down through most of South America and is quite common there, perching on wires, fences, and posts.
In more recent years, they’ve stretched their range to now include nesting just into southernmost Texas and Arizona.
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Tropical Kingbird singing
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My sighting at the refuge was across the pond canal behind the Visitor’s Center, and it was a windy 15+mph morning.
I read today it was easily seen on poles and wires at the Visitor’s Center parking lot, being quite the celebrity!
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Preening
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More Preening
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Fluff-up Shake
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Tropical Kingbird
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Tropical Kingbird in flight
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