Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
About This Species
Watch for this bright yellow-bellied flycatcher perched conspicuously on wires, fence posts or bare branches in open country, from where it sallies out to catch flying insects and returns to the same perch. It favors semi-open habitats near water or forest edges across its range from the southern United States through Central and South America. Warmer months and early morning hours, when insect activity peaks, offer the best viewing.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A distance of 15 to 20 metres is generally sufficient, as this species tolerates observers reasonably well from a vehicle or a stationary position.
- Protective legislation for migratory birds varies considerably across its range of multiple countries, so check local regulations rather than assuming uniform protection.
- Avoid lingering near an active perch during nesting season, since repeated disturbance can cause a pair to abandon a nest attempt.
LCAvesPasseriformesTyrannidae
Seasonal Activity
2,208,452 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.