Giant kingbird

The giant kingbird (Tyrannus cubensis) is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. It is endemic to Cuba, although there are historical records of it on other islands. The species is probably mostly closely related to the loggerhead kingbird, which also occurs in Cuba as well as several other nearby Caribbean islands.[2]

Giant kingbird
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
Species:
T. cubensis
Binomial name
Tyrannus cubensis
Richmond, 1898

This species averages 23 cm (9 in) long.[3] Despite their name, this species (though large) is not the largest tyrant flycatcher nor even the largest kingbird, since the thick-billed kingbird is slightly bigger. The giant kingbird is found in tall lowland forest. In particular it favours pine forests and the wooded borders of waterways. It is also found in mixed pine barrens, open woodlands, swamps and savanna. It has also been seen in cloud forest.[2]

It is threatened by habitat loss.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Tyrannus cubensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Mobley, Jason A. (2004), "Family Tyrannidae (tyrant flycatchers)", in del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David (eds.), Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9, Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 424, ISBN 84-87334-69-5
  3. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=4418

Media related to Tyrannus cubensis at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Tyrannus cubensis at Wikispecies


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