Kingbird 261 
In Colorado the Kingbird is a summer resident, chiefly on the plains 
and eastern foothills up to about 7,000 feet. It arrives at Colorado 
Springs about the first week in May, and is quite common on the plains ; 
it has been recorded from an elevation of 7,500 feet at Idaho Springs 
by Trippe, and Frey has taken a pair, May 15th, at Salida. It is said 
to breed in Middle Park, but it is not common in the mountains. In 
Baca co., in the south-eastern corner of the State, Warren found it by 
no means common, while in Routt co. he saw it on several occasions 
between Steamboat Springs and Lay. 
Habits—The Kingbird is well known for its bold and 
fearless characteristics, and for its pugnacity towards 
birds larger and stronger than itself. It has been seen 
by Aiken to attack even so large a bird as Swainson’s 
Hawk, flying above it and alighting on its shoulders and 
pecking out its feathers. 
The food of the Kingbird consists almost entirely of 
insects of various kinds, chiefly taken on the wing. 
It has been accused of killing honey-bees, and indeed 
is often known as the Bee-Martin or Bee-bird, but the 
investigations of the Agricultural Department have 
shown that its propensities in this respect have been 
greatly exaggerated, and in only a small percentage of 
the stomachs examined did bees occur, and these 
mostly drones. 
The nest, generally placed in the crotch of a tree, often 
in an orchard or near a dwelling-house, is well built, chiefly 
of twigs with a lining of hair or wool, and is often occupied 
several successive years. The male assists in incubation 
and in the construction of the nest. 
The eggs, three or four in number, measure ‘95 x ‘72, 
and are white to pale pink, varyingly blotched with 
brown or lavender. In Colorado the eggs are usually 
laid about the middle of June. Bendire figures an egg 
from a clutch taken by Dennis Gale at Gold Hill, in 
Boulder co., on June 25th, while Die gives June 12th 
as an average date for fresh eggs. 
