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EASTERN KINGBIRD  Tyrannus tyrannus 19.5–21cm. Transient migrant in

open and semi-open areas, forest and woodland edge, fruiting canopy. Migrant

flocks of 100s stream overhead all day. Distinctive, with fairly small bill,

blackish head, bold white tail tip; flame crown patch usually concealed. Faded

juv. notably duller, white tail tip can be virtually worn away. SOUNDS: High,

shrill, slightly tinny, downslurred tseih; high buzzy twitters. STATUS:  Fairly

common to very common Sep–Oct, late Mar to mid-May (small numbers from

late Aug and into Nov), in Caribbean coastal lowlands, uncommon to spora­

dically fairly common elsewhere, locally to 1800m. (Breeds N America, winters

S America.)

GRAY KINGBIRD  Tyrannus dominicensis 21–23cm. Rare migrant to open coastal areas, towns; often

on roadside wires. Associates with Eastern and Middle American Kingbirds, especially at roosts. Note

long heavy bill, relatively long cleft tail, gray upperparts with black mask, whitish underparts; yellow-

orange crown patch usually concealed. SOUNDS: Twittering trills similar to Middle American Kingbird

but average lower, rougher, slower-paced. STATUS: Rare transient on and near Caribbean coast, Sep–early

Nov, Mar; exceptional in winter. (Breeds Caribbean region, winters se. Caribbean to n. S America.)

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER  Tyrannus forficatus 19–35.5cm. Spectacular

migrant kingbird of open brushy habitats, ranchland with hedgerows and

fences. Perches low to high, often on roadside wires; migrants mix readily with

other kingbirds. Flocks of 100s can stream overhead all day during migration.

Distinctive, with pale head and upperparts, variable salmon-pink flush below

(deepest on adult male, palest on imm. female); red crown patch usually con­

cealed. Tail longest on adult male. SOUNDS: Clipped, sharply overslurred pic

and bickering chatters similar to Western Kingbird. STATUS: Fairly common to

common Nov–Mar on n. Pacific slope, in smaller numbers to s. Pacific slope

and in Central Valley, to 1500m; more widespread in migration, Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr. (Breeds sw. US and

Mexico, winters Mexico to Panama.)

*FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER  Tyrannus savana 19–40.5cm. Spectacular

kingbird of savanna, marshy areas, ranchland. Perches on ground, low bushes

and fences, less often on roadside wires; usually in pairs or small groups, locally

to 50+ birds. Long tail fans in a lyre shape, unlike diverging fork of Scissor-tailed

Flycatcher. Distinctive, with dark head, long black tail (longest on adult male);

yellow crown patch usually concealed. Austral migrants from South America are

regular vagrants to North America (mainly Aug–Nov), and may be overlooked

in Costa Rica. Differ from resident birds in duskier gray upperparts not con­

trasting as strongly with wings, slightly lower-pitched call, details of wing-tip

structure. Any birds away from normal range should be checked carefully. SOUNDS: High sharp, slightly

metallic tik and crackling twitters; song a few tik notes accelerating into a short, downslurred gurgle.

STATUS: Fairly common locally on s. Pacific slope and in nw. lowlands, to 1200m; irregular occurrences

elsewhere throughout the country suggest nomadic movements. (Mexico to S America.)