[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Robin Diaz on 16:32:15 10/13/10
I found a Tropical Kingbird this morning ~9:20 on Virginia Key. It was on the power lines in front of the old Miami Marine Institute (different name now) on Arthur Lamb, Jr. Road, Virginia Key. This is .25 miles north of the toll booth for Virginia Key Beach, not Virginia Key Beach Park. During the 15 minutes I stayed, it called 4 times at irregular intervals. It gave the classic high pitched, quick, slightly ascending stutter call that these birds use. It has the large head and bill characteristic of this species, a deeply notched (somewhat frayed) tail and rather short wings that were evident when it flies short distances for bugs. The upperparts are dark brown and the bird's plumage seems scruffy. The bird was back-lit this morning and my photos are terrible.
I had to leave but returned this afternoon from 2:15-3:05. It rained hard for ~15 minutes but the bird reappeared when the rain stopped. It flew into the buttonwoods and ficus for bugs, but also ate from a nearby fruiting Virginia Creeper and reguritated seeds periodically. I got better photos this afternoon, though the bird was very wet.
The bird seemed very nonchalant this morning regarding the 3 Merlins parked across the street and held its own with the local mockingbirds and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. At 3:05 it flew across the street and stayed high in the dead Australian Pines. These are the same pines where I've seen the Great Black-Hawk recently.
I called a friend who works nearby and he was able to come and take photos also. He remains nameless at this time, since he skipped out of work!
Although I'm 100% sure of the ID (Vs. Couch's Kingbird) because of the 4 calls, Tropical Kingbird remains a review species for FOS and a recording is necessary for documentation. Please let me know if anyone gets a recording. Thanks.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]