The Western Kingbird 
of from twenty to fifty yards. Honey bees form an occasional but 
inconsiderable article of diet. Grasshoppers are not overlooked, and they 
sometimes capture, not without a scuffle, those big brown locusts (Melan- 
oplns sp.) which make flippant exposure of their persons on a summer 
day. Both in the taking of food and in the discharge of police duties 
the Kingbird exhibits great strength and swiftness, as well as grace in 
flight. Once, when passing in a canoe through a quiet, weed-bound 
channel, I was quite deceived for a time by the sight of distant white¬ 
breasted birds dashing down to take insects near the surface of the water, 
and even, occasionally dipping under it. They had all the ease and 
grace of Tree Swallows, but proved to be Kingbirds practicing in a 
new role. 
“This fondness for water is often exhibited in the birds’ choice of 
a nesting site. Where accustomed to civilization, orchard or shade trees 
are preferred, but on many occasions nests are found on low-swinging 
horizontal branches overhanging the water; and, as often, in tiny willow 
clumps or isolated trees entirely surrounded by it. The nest of the 
Kingbird sometimes presents that studied disarray which is considered 
the height of art. Now and then a nest has such a disheveled appear¬ 
ance as to quite discourage investigation, unless the owners’ presence 
betrays the secret of occupancy. Ordinarily the nest is placed in an 
upright or horizontal fork of a tree at a height of from three to forty feet. 
Twigs, weed-stalks, and trash of any kind enter into the basal construc¬ 
tion. The characteristic feature of the nest, however, is the mould, or 
matrix, composed of vegetable plaster, ground wood, and the like, or 
else of compacted wool and cow-hair, which is forced into the interstices 
of the outer structure and rounded inside, giving shape to the whole. 
This cup, in turn, is lined with fine grasses, cow-hair, or variously. 
Occasionally, nests are found composed almost entirely of wool. In 
others string is the principal ingredient. 
“Although the Kingbird never sings, it has a characteristic and not 
unmusical cry, tizic, tizic (spell it phthisic , if you favor the old school) 
or tsee tsee tsee tsee, in numerous combinations of syllables, which are 
capable of expressing various degrees of excitement and emotion.” 
(The Birds of Washington.) 
No. 165 
Western Kingbird 
A. O. U. No. 447 . Tyrannus verticalis Say. 
Synonyms.— Arkansas Kingbird. Arkansas Flycatcher. 
