by Marilyn Lorenz photos by Chuck Lorenz
With a brilliant flash of bright yellow and chestnut brown and its signature call of “kiss-ka-deee” this large member of the flycatcher family has no trouble getting noticed. Distinctive black and white markings on the head, along with a golden crown he sometimes flashes, make Kiskadee a stand-out bird no matter where he goes.
There is nothing shy about this bold fellow. Like most of the tyrant flycatchers, this audacious fellow chases insects with wild abandon, but also eats lizards, and is even known to dive into the water for tadpoles and small fish. Unlike other flycatchers their diet also includes fruits and berries. This ability to eat almost anything is of great help in allowing these birds to live well in a large variety of places.
The Rio Grande Valley is the northernmost extent of their range and somewhat along the Gulf coast to Louisiana. South of here, however, they extend all the way down to Argentina and there are many sub-species living in Central and South America but those do not come north.
Kiskadees do not migrate but their range is gradually expanding north and east. They prefer to live among trees and close to ponds or rivers. They build round bulky nests with a side entrance but I have also observed them nest in cavities in a cactus. They usually lay four eggs which are creamy white with speckles of lavender and light brown. The nests are fiercely defended against any perceived danger by both parents and both work together to take care of their young.
Because these birds are very active and not particularly shy of people, they are great fun to observe. They will often sit out on the ends of tree branches to see what is going on that might interest them (this may include you). Like Blue Jays they are very playful and I have often seen them play with their food. Of all the special and exotic birds that visit or call the valley their home, Kiskadees are among the most attractive and easy to observe. A very good subject with which to start your birding career.