The plumage and perching habits of the Eastern kingbird make it one of the more conspicuous birds in open habitats of eastern Oregon.

The plumage is well defined: black on the upperparts and white on the underparts, and a white band on the terminal tip of the tail feathers. It is a relatively large flycatcher, often perching on powerlines, fences, or exposed perches on trees or snags. They hawk aerial insects during the breeding season.

The Eastern kingbird breeds throughout non-forest of most of northeast Oregon lowlands with spotty distribution in central and southeast Oregon. They are most abundant in irrigated valleys of northeastern Oregon, including Umatilla, Morrow, Wallowa, Union, Baker, and northeastern Malheur counties.

Hear the song of the Eastern kingbird

Photo by Kathy Munsel, ODFW