Western Kingbirds Near Hornitos

Trio of juvenile Western Kingbirds (Tyrannus verticalis) near the town of Hornitos, Ca

 Members of the Tyrant Flycatcher family, Tyrannidae, Western Kingbirds (Tyrannus verticalis) catch flying insects on the wing, hunting during daylight hours.  They inhabit much of the Central Valley during the summer months, preferring open habitats such as low elevation grasslands, open woodlands, sagebrush and agricultural land.
Western Kingbirds, in the branches of a Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii)

 I heard this trio of three juvenile Western Kingbirds before I spotted them, huddled together in a blue oak (Quercus douglasii) earlier this summer.  Their mother was not far off, flying back and forth catching insects to feed to her not-yet-independent offspring. 

Looking towards their momma, returning with supper


 I sat on the ground under the tree and watched these little ones for quite some time as they bobbed up and down with their branch swaying in the summer breeze.  And I think they were curious about me too!

I've been spotted!

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