Possible Kingbird with Orange Spot on Forehead?

[Dan P]

Are there any Kingbirds in Southern California with a bright orange spot on the forehead?

 

[Hasan]

How do you mean? Many species of kingbird have colored crowns, like this WEKI.

[Dan P]

Okay, I didn't know that a Western Kingbird could have a colored crown.  But I see now that a Tropical Kingbird can have an orange crown.  That might be what it is.  I have some poor photos that I will upload later.  The photos are not good enough for me to make an ID, but maybe some of you will be able to.

Thanks Hasan.

[IKLland]

11 hours ago, Dan P said:

Okay, I didn't know that a Western Kingbird could have a colored crown.  But I see now that a Tropical Kingbird can have an orange crown.  That might be what it is.  I have some poor photos that I will upload later.  The photos are not good enough for me to make an ID, but maybe some of you will be able to.

Thanks Hasan.

Do you recall how far the yellow went up on the breast? If it went all the way up to the top, it’s tropical. If it didn’t, without photos, I can’t tell you cassin’s or western,

[Tony Leukering]

13 hours ago, Dan P said:

bright orange spot on the forehead

Technically, no, as the bright red or orange patch on ALL kingbird's heads is on the crown, not on the forehead. And by "kingbird," I mean ALL members of the genus Tyrannus.

[Dan P]

I've photographed several Cassin's Kingbirds and a few Western Kingbirds, but never noticed any color on the crown.  And the descriptions on What Bird and eBird don't mention any "hidden" color on the crown.  Neither does All About Birds in regards to Cassin's, although regarding Western it mentions they will chase intruders with "flared crimson feathers they normally keep hidden under their gray crowns," but not mentioned in the ID.  It's interesting that there is so little mention of this feature.  But I guess that's what I get for relying on the internet.

I think the photos below include just two birds (possibly a third).  The bird with the orange patch on the crown is in the 1st and 2nd photos, and I believe it's head can also be seen in the 4th photo at the lower, left.  The second bird (which is above and to the right in the 1st photo), I believe is also the bird seen in the 3rd and 4th photos.  These photos were taken in the same sequence as I moved slightly to get a better shot of the second bird.

I'm mostly interested in the one with the orange patch on the crown, if it can be identified.

I forgot to say when/where these were taken:  3-27-2021 at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area (Los Angeles County, CA)

 

Edited April 2, 2021 by Dan P

[Dan P]

I have one more photo -- a crop of the bird in the 1st photo at 100% size.

 

[IKLland]

Cassin's Kingbird-

Dark gray, halfway up breast, white throat.

It's a very common bird down here. 

This is certainly a Cassin's

[Charlie Spencer]

20 hours ago, Tony Leukering said:

Technically, no, as the bright red or orange patch on ALL kingbird's heads is on the crown, not on the forehead. And by "kingbird," I mean ALL members of the genus Tyrannus.

I scanned the first several screen of Eastern Kingbird on Macaulay and couldn't find a single shot showing a colored patch.  Surprisingly, Sibley neither shows it nor mentions it for any Tyrannus.  The hardcover 'Complete NatGeo Birds of N.A.' doesn't show it either, but it does explicitly mention each species' respective color in the descriptive text; I don't know about the smaller NatGeo field guides.

Nice job catching it, @Dan P!  

[Avery]

1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said:

I scanned the first several screen of Eastern Kingbird on Macaulay and couldn't find a single shot showing a colored patch.  Surprisingly, Sibley neither shows it nor mentions it for any Tyrannus.  The hardcover 'Complete NatGeo Birds of N.A.' doesn't show it either, but it does explicitly mention each species' respective color in the descriptive text; I don't know about the smaller NatGeo field guides.

Nice job catching it, @Dan P!  

What Sibley do you have? Second edition has it 

[Charlie Spencer]

9 minutes ago, Avery said:

What Sibley do you have? Second edition has it 

This morning I looked at my first edition Western.  It has the same two Adult and Juvenile images but no head detail.

I have a second edition Eastern out in the car that I'm not motivated enough to go out and check at the moment.

Thanks!

[Avery]

2 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

This morning I looked at my first edition Western.  It has the same two Adult and Juvenile images but no head detail.

I have a second edition Eastern out in the car that I'm not motivated enough to go out and check at the moment.

Thanks!

Ah ok. I’ve got the US one. 

[Seanbirds]

On 4/2/2021 at 12:09 PM, Avery said:

Ah ok. I’ve got the US one. 

Me too! That’s what I use for my difficult IDs.

Edited April 5, 2021 by Seanbirds