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I have decided to share the Kiskadee bird tribe in this blog posting. I have become fascinated with this bird specie since they hang out on our balcony and wake us up each morning when they are hungry. So if you are game, let me introduce you to these colorful and interesting birds
The Mexican Kiskadee is found only on the west coast of Mexico and the northernmost edge of Guatemala. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and heavily degraded mountains.
The spectacular Mexican Kiskdee is a black-and-yellow birtd of tropical lowlands in west Mexico. This bird favors deciduous forests, plantations, and hedges with tall trees. It often can be fond in towns and villages especially near streams and rivers. Usually in flocks, the Kiskadee can be found moving through the canopy to feed at flowering and fruiting trees, but also feeds readily on the ground.
The adult great kiskadee is one of the largest of the tyrant flycatchers. It is 9.8 to 11.0 inches in length and weighs 1.87 to 2.52 onces. Good no know, si! The head is black with a strong white plumage and a concealed yellow crown stripe. The bill is short, thick, and black in color.
The great kiskadee is a common, noisy and conspicuous bird. It is almost omnivorous and hunts like a shrike or flycatcher waiting on an open perch high in a tree to fly out and catch insects or to pounce upon rodents and similar small vertebrates (such as other birds' chicks).
It will also take prey such as small lizards and frogs and some fruit from vegetation by jumping for it or by ripping it off in mid-hover. Occasionally it dives for fish or tadpoles in shallow water making it one of the few fishing passerines.
Kiskadees like to hunt on their own or in pairs though they might be fond to make good use of prey flushed by smaller birds they do not seem to join mixed-species feeding flocks very often. When they do, they hunt in the familiar manner. Such opportunistic feeding behavior makes it one of the commonest birds in urban areas around Latin America. And its flashy belly and its shrill call make it one of the most conspicuous.
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Great kiskadees are monogamous and defend a territory. Both sexes build the large domed nest that has a side entrance. It is chiefly composed of grasses and small twigs, but can also incorporate lichen, string, and plastic. The birds will steal material from other nests.The nest is placed in a wide range of sites often in an exposed position high up in a tree or on man-made structures. This photo was taken on our guard raid which the Kisdakees like to hang out on and which they also use to clean their bills.
This alert and aggressive bird has a strong and maneuverable flight which it uses to good effect when it feels annoyed by raptors. Even much larger birds are attacked by the great kiskadee usually by diving down or zooming straight at them while they are in mid-air. Harsh calls are also often given during these attacks alerting all potential prey in the area of the predator's presence.
If not very hungry any raptor subject to a great kiskadee's mobbing behavior is likely to leave as it is almost impossible to make a good catch when subject to the tyrant flycatcher's unwelcome attention. In general, avian predators are liable to steer clear of an alert great kiskadee lest their hunting success be spoiled. Maybe this Kiskadee is thinking about going fishing. What do you think?
Not being appreciated as a songbird, the great kiskadee is not usually kept caged and therefore has escaped the depredations of poaching for the pet trade. The Kiskadee bird mostly lives on prey which mades it extremely difficult to keep in captivity. This Kiskadee photographed above might have thought it was a cool place to take a time out on this umbrella below our deck.
Our Kiskadees have become very fond of old corn chips which I break up for the their morning treat. This is one of three who comes each morning and calls me with their distinctive sound so I know they are there. PS We have also learned that they simply adore pancakes and French toast also. I keep saying to my husband we are creating avian monsters.
If you look closely you can see some of our breakfast hotcakes hanging out of our friend's mouth!
Thank you for joining me in this brief introduction to the Kiskadee bird tribe. Until next time wishing you well and please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions, suggestions, or comments. Saludos, Laura
