Western Kingbird

Status Uncommon vagrant. The first record of this species was of one rescued from a cat at Lower West Pubnico, Yarmouth County, on 26 October 1935 (I.J. Pothier). Another 15 were recorded up to 1960, all in the southwestern counties. Since then it has become annual in occurrence, at times in some numbers during autumn, again mostly in the southwestern counties. Our only spring records are of individuals on Sable Island on 10 April 1971 and in Shelburne County on 5 June of the same year. An unseasonal wanderer was on Cape Sable on 23 June 1973, and others on Long Island, Digby County, on 28 July 1976 and on Sable Island on 20 July 1982 seemed too early to be normal fall migrants. The first Western Kingbirds in fall normally appear in September or October (average 20 September, earliest 27 August), and the last ones are seen routinely in November and occasionally in December (average 10 November, latest 20 December). Most startling was one at the feeder of Mrs. Douglas Harlow at Sable River, Shelburne County, 20-23 Febnuary 1962 (H.F. Lewis), probably the victim of a preceding gale.

Remarks This kingbird of the western plains resembles our native Eastern Kingbird only in size, shape and behaviour, for its plumage markings are distinctly different. It is grayish green on the back, pale gray on the breast, white at the chin, sulphur-yellow on the belly, and its tail feathers are black, except the white-edged outer feathers. It is most likely to be confused with the Great Crested Flycatcher (see that species for distinctions).