Coastal Carolina

Tyrannus tyrannus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6.75 inches * Large head * Often feeds by flying out to catch insects and then returning to the same perch * Often perches in an exposed location, for example, the very top of a tree or on a fence * Frequents open habitats: agricultural areas and streams Adult: * Black tail with white terminal band * Blackish upperparts * Whitish underparts * Red crown patch rarely visible Juvenile: * Upperparts browner than adult Similar species: The Eastern Kingbird is easily told from other similar kingbirds by its white terminal tail band and black and white plumage. Waxwings have yellow terminal tail bands.

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Sayornis phoebe HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5.75 inches * Dark head * Pale throat and underparts-whitish in Spring, yellowish in Fall * Grayish-olive upperparts * Frequently wags tail * Juvenile has buffy wing bars * Often builds nest under bridges or around buildings near water Similar species: The Say's Phoebe has a paler head and darker underparts. Eastern Wood-Pewee has more obvious wing bars and does not wag its tail.

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Myiarchus crinitus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7 inches * Gray throat and breast * Yellow underparts * Brownish-olive upperparts * Pale wing bars and tertial edges * Brown tail with rust edges * Pale base to lower mandible * Inhabits forests where it is most often heard before being seen Similar species: The Great Crested Flycatcher is most similar to the other flycatchers in the genus Myiarchus: Brown-crested, Ash-throated and Dusky-capped. It has a darker gray throat and breast than the other species and has a pale base to its lower mandible. Ash-throated and Dusky-capped are smaller. Ash-throated has paler yellow underparts. Brown-crested and Dusky-capped have browner tails. The calls of these very similar species are an excellent way to distinguish them. Some species of kingbirds are similar but have paler heads and lack rusty in the tail.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7 inches * Large head and bill * Frequents open habitats * Often seen perched on fences Adult: * Dark, unforked tail with white outer tail feathers * Pale gray head with dark eyeline * Grayish-olive upperparts * Pale throat and upper breast * Pale yellow lower breast to undertail coverts Juvenile: * Plumage somewhat duller than adult * Pale edges to wings Similar species: The Western Kingbird is similar to several other species of kingbirds: Tropical and Couch's Kingbirds have forked tails and dark cheeks, Cassin's Kingbird has a darker breast, Western Kingbird has white outer tail feathers, Thick-billed Kingbird usually has whiter underparts and has a darker head. Brown-crested, Ash-throated and Great Crested Flycatchers are somewhat similar but have darker, browner crowns and brown and rusty tails (Western's is black and white).

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Tyrannus verticalis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7 inches * Large head and bill * Frequents open habitats * Often seen perched on fences Adult: * Dark, unforked tail with white outer tail feathers * Pale gray head with dark eyeline * Grayish-olive upperparts * Pale throat and upper breast * Pale yellow lower breast to undertail coverts Juvenile: * Plumage somewhat duller than adult * Pale edges to wings Similar species: The Western Kingbird is similar to several other species of kingbirds: Tropical and Couch's Kingbirds have forked tails and dark cheeks, Cassin's Kingbird has a darker breast, Western Kingbird has white outer tail feathers, Thick-billed Kingbird usually has whiter underparts and has a darker head. Brown-crested, Ash-throated and Great Crested Flycatchers are somewhat similar but have darker, browner crowns and brown and rusty tails (Western's is black and white).

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