Giant Kingbird

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

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]

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 2004. Tyrannus cubensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 27 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b Mobley, Jason A. (2004), "Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant-flycatchers)", in del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David, 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

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tyrannus_cubensis Tyrannus cubensis] at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Tyrannus cubensis at Wikispecies