One of Oasis Valley's most abundant summer birds, kingbirds nest here in cottonwoods and other, often planted, trees around ranches, in towns, and riparian groves. They can often be seen perhced on telephone wires and barbwire fences in grasslands along the Amargosa River, marsh edges, and creosote deserts. They arrive in April and leave in mid September.
Full of energy, in spring I am always amazed to wake up at 4:00 AM, just as the slightest dawn light is beginning to illuminate the eastern horizon, and the sky is still dark and starry, to hear kingbirds actively singing in the cottonwoods and creosote. Sometimes they nest in trees right over my house. If a Raven comes too close, he kingbird pair noisily chases them off, and will even try to harass Red-tailed hawks away.
^Glowing yellow belly in late afternoon sun.
^Hunting out in a marsh along the Amargosa River, midsummer.
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