The Weekly Chirp: Great Kiskadee

One of my favorite birds (favorite?....uh...you will hear this again!) is a year round resident, The Great Kiskadee, a member of the Flycatcher family. Flycatcher behavior is pretty similar amongst the various local and visiting species, and very interesting to watch. They are determined and relentless insect hunters! Here’s what they do:

● Find a wire, branch, post, etc… and use that as home base.
● Fly out, gobble a few insects, and fly back to home base.
● Repeat....
● Repeat...
● Repeat...

This activity can go on for hours, creating an easy study of flycatcher behavior. The Great Kiskadee is a particularly keen example of this, as he is loud, social, colorful and a show off, therefore easy to spot!

His call is quite boisterous and you can almost hear: “Hey look over here!” “Mom–MOMM!..did you see how many insects I caught?” “Mom, watch this dive!” “Mom, over here!”

The Great Kiskadee is absolutely strikingly beautiful, and actually quite elegant, with his bright intense yellow body, rufus wings and back, and with a prominent black eye mask. Not sure why, but as a child I equated this bird with the Lone Ranger! Though quite different in most aspects, he is always a pleasure to see and to watch! “Hi Yo Silver. Away!” Until next week.......