The Gray Kingbird is uncommon on Trinidad, but can be found in open areas near the coast in Tobago. In Florida we saw the Gray Kingbird hunting from a perch on a wire, and they are usually seen on a high open hunting perch. Here the bird was at eye level, making for a better portrait. The Gray Kingbird is a large (9") flycatcher, with a fairly long and thick bill. It has a dark mask that makes it look a bit like a Loggerhead Shrike, and lacks the yellow on the belly seen in some other Kingbirds like the Tropical kingbird, and our Western and Cassin's Kingbirds.
Gray Kingbird is found throughout the West Indies and down to northern South America. In the U.S. they are seen on the along the eastern and Gulf coasts, from North Carolina around to Mississippi. The island populations are mostly sedentary. They feed on insects captured in mid-air, but also eat berries, fruits and lizards.
These birds are said to have a "petulant voice and feisty disposition". Around their nest they fearlessly attack any intruder, including not only grackles, crows, hawks and herons but even dogs, pigs and humans! (BNA #668, Smith and Jackson).
More taxonomy:
37 of the 420-odd Tyrant Flycatcher species are found in Trinidad-Tobago. Our group managed to see about 15 of them, with the Tropical Kingbird and Great Kiskadee seen most often.
The genus Tyrannus has 13 species, 11 called "Kingbird", plus the Scissor-tailed and Fork-billed Flycatchers. Locally we see decent numbers of the Western Kingbirds, but every year along our coast a few Tropical Kingbirds and the occasional Eastern Kingbird are spotted. Cassin's Kingbirds are seen more inland and to the south.
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