eastern kingbird

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By Wind-blown Kingbirds

Jordan Lake. The eastern kingbird is quite a striking flycatcher. The white striped end of its tail is a great field identification mark. I don’t know which the wind was bouncing harder: the kingbirds or my camera! The soft high-pitched chittering is from the kingbirds.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle nest report: First Nest, 4 photos 05-04-2019
First Nest
Even if you ARE a bald eagle, some birds just don’t give you any leeway.
The eastern kingbird took great offense that Cacao flew too close to its nest.
The parent kingbird (about the size of a robin) promptly chased Cacao out of the area.
BTW I have seen kingbirds actually land on the backs of both adult and juvenile eagles.
Looks like a jet landing on an aircraft carrier.
Sometimes the kingbird gives the eagle a peck for good measure!  But, not in this series.

By JL Raptor: Ranger Nest Cove 4 photos 06/19/2018
Ranger Nest Cove
 
So, the ospreys have been harassing the Ranger bald eagles.
Turn about happens.
Dad osprey was trying to get a fish he had caught to his nest.
As ospreys sometimes do, he had removed the head from the fish.
On Dad osprey’s way from his perch to the nest, the eastern kingbird found the osprey.
The eastern kingbird is showing a red alert patch on his head because Dad osprey is in the kingbird’s nest territory.
And, oh yes, the eastern kingbird landed on the osprey’s head!
Satisfied with the aerial landing and peck, the kingbird zipped off and Dad osprey got to his nest.
Whew!

By J Neighborhood: 2 Birds, 2 Butterflies and Bumblebees
Elegant, graceful, simply beautiful, Great Egret
 
 
Eastern Kingbird fledgling – yelling for a parent to feed him.  
 
 
the Common Buckeye butterfly
 
 
A Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly sharing a button bush blossom with some Eastern Bumblebees.
All these insects, along with the Common Buckeye are important pollinators.