The vigilant Western kingbird is a summer resident of open country known for their fearless and aggressive nature in the nesting season. They are often seen perched on telephone wires, tall trees, fence posts, or any upright structure, surveying the surroundings and sallying out to capture airborne insects. They have adapted well to advancing human settlement and frequently nest on utility poles.

The Western kingbird is a fairly common summer resident east of the Cascades. Range also extends westward through open valleys within the Siskiyou Mountains and into the Rogue and Umpqua valleys.

Hear the song of the Western kingbird

Photo by Maxine Wyatt