The kingbird is a large summer flycatcher. It is actually two birds: eastern and western. I have seen the less common western feeding its chicks, but until a few days ago, had not seen the more common eastern feeding them. Amazingly, in one day, I watched two local Eastern Kingbird nests where the adults were very busy feeding their chicks.
An Eastern Kingbird feeds one of its four chicks. The nest has been built on a cylindrical TV transmission device on a line between utility poles. This was probably a good choice for the bird’s protection from predators.
Here, a parent is giving them a dragonfly.
A half kilometre away was another Eastern Kingbird nest with four smaller chicks.
Both parents were involved in feeding them. The mother was panting in the day’s heat.
Wow…certainly these chicks are in deep “oral stage”, eh…and that dragonfly feast!!
I’m interested in your comment…for I used to help myself remember the Western KB because of yellow breast (both having the short e vowel sound) from the white Eastern KB…are you suggesting that they’ve interbred now?
Karen, I don’t understand the basis for the question.