Western Kingbird Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: The less common of the two Kingbirds found around most of South Dakota, with Eastern Kingbirds far more common in my area in the eastern part of the state. In terms of behavior you certainly wouldn't be able to distinguish between the two species. A typical day in a Kingbird's life in South Dakota 1) Hang out on a barbed wire fence, 2) periodically fly out to capture an insect, and 3) freak out and chase any other bird that dares to enter your territory. That about covers it! The photo below of a typical Western-Kingbird-on-a-barbed-wire-fence was taken on May 27th, 2007 in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.

Western Kingbird - Tyrannus verticalis


Western Kingbird 1 May 27th, 2007 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 2 (Adult feeding fledglings) August 1st, 2004 Lake Thompson, Kingsbury County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 3 (Fledglings) August 1st, 2004 Lake Thompson, Kingsbury County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 4 May 27th, 2007 Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Western Kingbird 5 (In Flight) July 4th, 2005 Hughes County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 6 July 20th, 2008 Kingsbury County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 7 July 20th, 2008 Kingsbury County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 8 (Fledgling) July 20th, 2008 Kingsbury County, South Dakota

Western Kingbird 9 July 20th, 2008 Kingsbury County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 10 July 20th, 2008 Kingsbury County, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 11 July 11th, 2009 Fort Pierre National Grasslands, South Dakota	Western Kingbird 12 June 3rd, 2017 Minnehaha County, South Dakota