Douglas County Birds: Western Kingbird

Western Kingbirds can often be seen around Douglas County in wide open fields with lots of trees and shrubs. At the end of summer Western Kingbirds migrate to Southern Mexico and Central America and return to their breeding grounds in the spring. Western Kingbirds eat a wide variety of insects and bugs. They might occasionally eat small berries as well. Western Kingbirds like to nest in trees and shrubs but will also use certain man made structures as well. The female weaves bits of grass, bark, cotton, and other plant fibers together to form a cup. After that she lines the inside of the cup with soft materials such as feathers, cloth, wool, and string. One of my favorite things about these birds is the way they hunt, they sit perched on fence posts or power lines along fields watching for bugs and insects. Photo taken by Abraham Finlay yesterday in Douglas County