Belize Bird of the Week #4 – Great Kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus

The Great Kiskadee is a very common bird throughout Belize. Its range extends from Texas to the north down through Uruguay and Argentina to the south. Each morning, the kiskadees woke us up with their calls that, to me, sound like “Christopher! Christopher!” It is in the tyrant flycatcher group, and at our place in Belize is the largest of the flycatchers.

Kiskadees are handsome birds with very striking white bands just above their eyes and a black mask that extends from the beak back across the eyes.  The one in the photo below posed for me high up in a Cercropia tree right across from our back veranda.

The view of this kiskadee from below shows that the undersides are bright yellow.

The edges of the wings and tail have a cinnamon color that distinguishes it from the broad billed kiskadee.

The great kiskadees are very active, social birds that are comfortable around humans. One of their favorite places to nest is at the downspouts of rain gutters. Here is one bringing additional material to its nest on our cabana.

Kiskadees often sit in a favorite tree and fly out to catch insects. Here one is sitting in our tamarind tree in between forays for flying insects.

You sure don’t want to be the insect getting this bird’s scrutiny! Be sure to click to enlarge for maximum effect!