Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) is in the Tyrant Flycatchers family (Tyrannidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 32,269 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Western Kingbird: observations by month (U.S.)
About Western Kingbird
The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) is a large tyrant flycatcher found throughout western environments of North America, as far south as Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Western Kingbird by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,283 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Texas | 9,097 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 2,435 | May | May–Aug |
| Arizona | 1,785 | April | Apr–Sep |
| New Mexico | 1,499 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 1,447 | May | May–Jul |
| Oregon | 797 | May | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 689 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Idaho | 616 | May | May–Jul |
| Kansas | 577 | May | May–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 552 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 525 | December | Nov–Apr |
| Washington | 524 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 436 | May | May–Jul |
| South Dakota | 311 | July | May–Jul |
| Montana | 242 | July | May–Aug |
| Wyoming | 211 | July | May–Aug |
| North Dakota | 181 | June | May–Aug |
| Louisiana | 148 | July | Apr–Jul |
| Missouri | 118 | May | May–Jul |
| Tennessee | 75 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Maryland | 70 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Minnesota | 65 | May | May–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 58 | November | Oct–Dec |
| Illinois | 56 | May | May–Aug |
| New York | 54 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Arkansas | 44 | May | May–Jul |
| Alabama | 37 | December | Sep–Jan |
| Georgia | 35 | December | Nov–Feb |
| New Jersey | 34 | November | Sep–Jan |
| South Carolina | 34 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Mississippi | 31 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Iowa | 27 | July | May–Jul |
| North Carolina | 25 | January | Oct–Jan |
| Ohio | 24 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Michigan | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 20 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Connecticut | 17 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Wisconsin | 11 | May | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 8 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Maine | 8 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Vermont | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Delaware | 7 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Indiana | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 6 | November | Nov–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Eastern Phoebe
Black Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Say's Phoebe
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Western Kingbird?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Western Kingbird most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Colorado.