Thick-billed Kingbird
Tyrannus crassirostris

21 December 2004
Selkirk Island, Matagorda County, Texas, USA
Canon EOS 10D, 100-400mm IS lens, 1.4X extender.

This Thick-billed Kingbird was originally found three years ago in the private subdivision of Selkirk Island. It stayed all winter and more remarkably has returned each of the last two winters to the same spot. After participating in the Mad Island Marsh Christmas Bird Count, Nick Block, Heidi Trudell, and I stayed another night to look for this bird and a Masked Duck found on the CBC. At 7am we arrived at Selkirk Island, an "island" of riparian forest that sports Carolina Chickadees, Blue Jays, and other eastern species who are at the southern end of their range here. My attempt at photographing the bird was dampened by a short burst of showers that had us sheltering under a tree. Shortly after the shower ended, the kingbird flew from the willow it had roosted in overnight to a nearby snag. It dried itself, vocalized as it moved from tree top to tree top looking for breakfast, and took off to the south after a few minutes. I was able to get just a few quick photos.

All images are copyrighted by Chris Merkord, all rights reserved