Bruce Fall, Minneapolis
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This morning (Wed., 24 June, 07:00 a.m.) I was surprised to find a
“yellow-bellied” Tyrannus kingbird at Murphy-Hanrehan Park, Scott Co.
Specifically, the bird was W of the trail at marker #36 (picnic table on
the hill), along the horse/pet trails (entrance from the horse trailer
parking area off Sunset Lake Blvd). I watched the kingbird off and on
(mostly on) from 07:00-07:35, and 08:35-09:10 as it sat, preened, and
hawked insects from various saplings and trees on the hill from about
150 yards SW of marker 36 to about 200 yards NE, and from near the horse
trail to about 150 yards W of it (all locations were W of the horse
trail). It spent most of its time in the large thin scraggly cottonwood
about 100 yds. W of the trail (biggest tree on the hill). I was limited
to viewing with binoculars (8x32 Zeiss FL) at distances of about 50-75
yards. Initially I thought it was a Western Kingbird, which is rare
enough here (no prior park records to my knowledge), but the tail seemed
to be sooty dark brown, not black; notched or shallowly forked, not
square; no evidence of white edges; and other features of the head and
breast strongly suggest Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird rather than Western. I
left to get my spotting scope but was unable to relocate it from
10:00-12:00. Update: Bob Williams relocated the kingbird at 2:30 and saw
it as recently as 2:55. Be sure to bring a scope if you come. Also
please note that this kingbird is unidentified for now and could prove
to be just a WEKI. Also note that there are a couple of Great Crested
Flycatchers in the same area.
