The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) was a new bird for me, spotted on the last day of last week’s Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail walk. It’s a multi-pastel-colored bird (a type of flycatcher) that’s a little smaller than a robin.
According to Alvaro Jaramillo’s Field Guide to the Birds of California, this bird is a migrant here for the spring through summer breeding season. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America says this kingbird is seen singly or in small family groups. We watched three to five together in the coastal scrub. It’s a beautiful visitor. I was happy to make its acquaintance.
