Tyrant-flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) - HBW 9, p. 422

French: Tyran tritri German: Schieferrücken-Königstyrann Spanish: Tirano Oriental

Taxonomy: Lanius tyrannus Linnaeus, 1758, South Carolina, USA.
Closest relatives of genus may be Empidonomus and Tyrannopsis; recent molecular-sequence data indicate present genus is monophyletic and sister-group to clade that includes Empidonomus and Griseotyrannus; two main clades within genus, loosely corresponding to “tropical species assemblage” and combination of “W” & “E” species groups of earlier authors, but with some exceptions. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that present species is basal to a clade including T. vociferans, T. verticalis and T. forficatus within an “E & W species group” that may also include T. caudifasciatus and/or T. cubensis. W populations of this species sometimes separated (as race hespericola) from E ones primarily on basis of differences in lengths of wing, tail and tarsus and in width of white terminal tailband, but considered insignificant. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds throughout much of North America, from British Columbia E to Newfoundland, S to N New Mexico, C Texas and S Florida (absent only in Alaska, much of N Canada, and parts of W & SW USA). Winters in South America S to Argentina.