Tyrannus melancholicus
tropical kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus breeds from southeastern Arizona (Nearctic Region) to South America (Neotropical Region). Its winters are spent in Mexico (Nearctic Region) to South America (Neotropical Region). (USGS and Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2003)

Tropical kingbirds are found in open woodlands, (particularly cottonwoods) that are near ponds or flowing streams. They can be found up to 2000 m in elevation. They inhabit open or semi-open country, avoiding densely forested areas, and can be found in temperate and tropical climates. Tropical kingbirds may also live in parks and suburbs. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998; USGS and Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2003)

Tyrannus melancholicus has a long, dark forked tail and a fairly large bill. It weighs 32 to 43 g, is 18 to 23 cm long and has a wingspan of about 12 cm. Its head is a pale gray with contrasting darker cheeks and a patch of reddish orange on its crown. It has grayish-olive upperparts, a pale throat, a darker upper breast and a bright yellow lower breast. The plumage is not greatly affected by seasonal change. The sexes are similar except for the size of the reddish-orange crown-patch and the difference in shape of the outer primaries (males' primaries are more distinctly notched). Females tend to weigh slightly more than males. Although juvenile tropical kingbirds are physically similar to adults, they have browner upperparts and pale edges to their wings. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998; USGS and Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2003)

Tropical kingbirds are most similar to Couch's kingbirds (Tyrannus couchii) but can be distinguished by their call. Additionally, tropical kingbirds, although slightly smaller, have a longer bill than Couch's kingbirds. (USGS and Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2003)

The subspecies Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa is paler in color and smaller than T. melancholicus. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Predators are the main cause of mortality among T. melancholicus. Nest failure, which may occur from overheating, strong winds, and precipitation, is also a threat to T. melancholicus. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Tropical kingbirds usually move by flying. They sleep on small twigs in low, isolated trees. They are active all day and may somtimes hunt near artificial light at night. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Home Range

We do not have information on home range for this species at this time.

As a songbird, Tyrannus melancholicus communicates primarily through vocalizations. It will call when greeting another tropical kingbird and when chasing a predator. A male will also call when it is courting and following its mate.

The common call, which varies depending on the context, sounds like a "tere-ee-ee, tril-il-il-iil-l," or "tre-e-e-e-eip." (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Tropical kingbird's songs are given throughout the day, even in the middle of the day when most other birds are silent. They also sing a song known as the Dawn Song, which they begin before sunrise, before most of the other birds begin to sing. Tyrannus melancholicus will stop singing the Dawn Song by sunrise and will not repeat it until the dawn of the next morning. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

When courting, a perched male will flap its wings, sometimes lifting off from its perched position.

Tyrannus melancholicus may show aggressive behavior when defending its territory; chases often occur during the breeding season. Such aggressive behavior may include ruffling of crown feathers and a harsh series of vocalized twitters. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Tyrannus melancholicus is primarily an insectivore; it also occasionally feeds on fruit. It feeds mostly on flying insects, including Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (particularly bees and wasps), Isoptera (termites), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Odonata (dragonflies), and Orthoptera (grasshoppers). Its fruit diet consists of seeded fruits and berries. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis) have been known to prey on adult tropical kingbirds, while eggs and young have been attacked by swallow-tailed kites (Elanoides forficatus) and chestnut-mandibled toucans (Ramphastos swainsonii). Tyrannus melancholicus will aggressively harass a flying predator by dipping and dodging toward it from behind. It will also mob perched predators, attacking either individually, in pairs or in small groups. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Tyrannus melancholicus acts as a host for various species of cowbirds. This means that the cowbirds will lay their eggs in a tropical kingbird's nest, and the tropical kingbird will raise the cowbird young as if it were its own. It is also host to many species of parasites. These include parasites that live in the bird's blood, body cavity, and on its skin. Nasal mites have also been found living in T. melancholicus. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Tyrannus melancholicus also plays an important role in seed dispersal, and as an insectivore it serves as an important predator for insects. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998; Wutherich et al., 2001)

There are no known adverse affects of Tyrannus melancholicus on humans. (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998; USGS and Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2003)

Tyrannus melancholicus is beneficial in agricultural areas because it feeds on insects that may be crop pests (for example, grasshoppers). (Stouffer and Chesser, 1998)

Tropical kingbirds are protected under the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Western kingbirds (Tyrannus verticalis), a species very similar in appearance and behavior to T. melancholicus, have been discovered to reuse their nests after one breeding season is over. This is very helpful to a bird, since nest-building requires a great deal of energy; as many as 2500 trips may be required to make an adequate nest. These trips to and from the nest also expose the birds to increased chances of predation. However, there are drawbacks to nest reuse, the old nests may carry diseases or parasites, and they may not last the entire season due to various problems, including previous structural damage. (Bergin, 1997)