Kingbird
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| Missing image EasternKingbird23.jpg Kingbird Eastern Kingbird | ||||||||||||
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The genus Tyrannus is a group of large insect-eating birds in the Tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae.
They prefer semi-open or open areas. These birds wait on a perch and then catch insects in flight. They have long pointed wings and large broad bills.
These birds tend to defend their breeding territories aggressively, often chasing away much larger birds. The genus name means "tyrant".
The full list of species is:
- Snowy-throated Kingbird, Tyrannus niveigularis
- White-throated Kingbird, Tyrannus albogularis
- Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus
- Couch's Kingbird, Tyrannus couchii
- Cassin's Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
- Thick-billed Kingbird, Tyrannus crassirostris
- Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
- Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
- Grey Kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis
- Loggerhead Kingbird, Tyrannus caudifasciatus
- Giant Kingbird, Tyrannus cubensis
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus savana
The name "Tyrannus" also appears in the New Testament, where it is thought to refer to a Greek scholar or Jewish rabbi, who operated a school at Ephesus.