AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Tyrannus melancholicus
Tropical Kingbird
Vieillot, 1819
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
The Tropical Kingbird is a robust and streamlined passerine, designed for aerial agility. Its head is a pale gray or ashen tone, adorned with a dark, diffuse mask through the eyes that gives it a piercing gaze. Hidden in the crown, it possesses a crest of red, orange, or yellow feathers that it only erects during moments of high excitement or aggression. The back and wings present a grayish olive-green color that fades into darker tones on the primary feathers and a long, dark brown tail that is distinctly notched at the tip. The throat is a grayish-white that blends smoothly into a yellowish-olive breast, finally erupting into a vibrant, luminous yellow belly and undertail coverts. Its beak is black, relatively long, stout, and slightly hooked at the tip, flanked by rictal bristles (tactile hairs) at the base to capture insects. The legs are short, black, and adapted for perching firmly.
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Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Passeriformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Tyrannidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Tyrannus
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Vieillot, 1819
Record Completeness
93%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Increasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
--
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Insectivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
It is one of the most adaptable and ubiquitous birds in the Neotropics. It inhabits an immense variety of semi-open landscapes and ecotones from sea level up to more than 2,000 meters in altitude. It thrives in savannas, forest edges, agricultural pastures, mangroves, and riverbanks, but has also successfully conquered urban and suburban environments, where it is common to see it perched on telephone wires, antennas, barbed wire fences, and bare branches in gardens, always maintaining a panoramic view for hunting.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
It is a sit-and-wait predator par excellence. It spends much of its day perched motionlessly on natural or artificial watchtowers that offer 360-degree visibility. When it detects an insect, it launches into a fast, zigzagging flight, catching the prey in the air with an audible, dry snap of the beak, before gracefully returning to the same perch or an adjacent one to beat large prey against the branch before swallowing them. They are extremely vocal and active at dawn, establishing their territorial boundaries through constant trilling.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
It is an intensely monogamous bird during the breeding season, defending an expansive nesting territory with unmatched fervor. Outside the reproductive season and especially during their partial migration patterns in some subpopulations, territorial rigidity decreases significantly, allowing them to form loose flocks or roost in groups of dozens of individuals in communal roosting trees to mutually protect themselves from nocturnal predators.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Aerial hawking insectivore. Its diet is dominated by large flying insects with robust exoskeletons, such as wasps, bees, flying beetles, dragonflies, winged termites, and butterflies. This diet, high in chitin and proteins, is seasonally supplemented with fruits from Cecropia, Miconia, and Ficus trees.Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
It acts primarily as a secondary consumer and a key insectivore in regulating populations of large flying insects. In times of scarcity or during the non-breeding season, it can behave as an opportunistic omnivore by consuming small fruits and berries, acting as a minor seed disperser. Despite its extreme aggressiveness, it falls prey to specialized and surprise-attacking raptors such as forest falcons (genus Micrastur and Accipiter), while its nests are vulnerable to arboreal snakes, iguanas, and climbing mammals like opossums.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
The breeding season is intrinsically linked to insect availability. The female is solely responsible for building the nest: an open, loose, and somewhat untidy cup-shaped structure made of dry twigs, grasses, vines, and fine roots, often lined with soft materials or spiderwebs. It is usually located in a horizontal tree fork at mid to high elevation. The female lays 2 to 3 pale cream-colored eggs covered in heavy chestnut and reddish blotches. She alone incubates the eggs for 14 to 16 days while the male tirelessly guards the surroundings like a lethal sentinel. Upon hatching, the altricial chicks (completely blind and helpless) are fed by both parents an intensive diet of regurgitated insects, leaving the nest approximately between 18 and 19 days of age.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
18.0 - 24.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
30 g - 42 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.2 - 3
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).No
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
1 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
14 - 16
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males4 - 7 Years
Females4 - 7 Years
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Hawking Aerodynamics: It possesses highly developed pectoral musculature and a distinctly notched tail that acts as a millimeter-precision rudder. This allows it to perform extreme acrobatic maneuvers, sudden changes in direction, and mid-air braking to catch agile flying insects, returning to the exact same perch point repeatedly.
Concealed Coronal Display: Under the gray feathers of its head, it hides a bright fire-colored patch (red, orange, or yellow). This patch functions as a surprise visual warning signal; it forcefully deploys it when confronting predators or territorial rivals, disorienting the opponent and communicating a high level of aggression.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Agrochemical Bioaccumulation: Being a species that feeds abundantly over agricultural fields and pastures, it is chronically exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides and broad-spectrum pesticides, which bioaccumulate in its tissues and compromise its reproductive success and neurological system over the long term.
Hazards of Poor Urbanization: Although they adapt well to cities, they suffer a high mortality rate from collisions with motor vehicles when diving down towards the road to catch insects attracted to the hot asphalt, in addition to electrocutions on poorly maintained electrical wiring.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
The Tyrant King of the Skies: Its genus name, 'Tyrannus' (tyrant or king), honors its legendary fearlessness. It defends its nest by aggressively attacking formidable predators such as hawks, eagles, toucans, and even vultures in mid-flight, chasing them relentlessly and often pecking at their backs until they are expelled from its territory.
A Paradoxically Melancholic Song: Despite its fierce character, its specific name 'melancholicus' comes from its most common vocalizations. During the early morning, they emit a rapid series of high-pitched, rolling trills ('tri-ri-ri-ri-ri') that descend in pitch, sounding to the ears of early European naturalists like a pitiful cry or a melancholic complaint.