title: Thick-billed kingbird
text: # Thick-billed kingbird
  
  The thick-billed kingbird (Tyrannus crassirostris) is a large bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.
  
  ## Distribution and habitat
  
  This bird breeds from southeastern Arizona and extreme southwestern New Mexico in the United States and northern Sonora (the Madrean sky islands) through the western and western-coastal ranges in Mexico, south to western Guatemala. Thick-billed kingbirds usually occur in arid or partly arid areas in streamside riparian canyons, or open areas near water. They are particularly fond of sycamore woodland edges.
  
  ## Description
  
  This is a large tyrant flycatcher, with adults measuring 23.5 cm (9.3 in) in length. Adults are dusky olive-brown on the upperparts with light underparts; they have a long dark brown or black tail. The underside is a dull white to pale yellow. They have a yellow patch on their crown, but is not visible very often. The bill on this species, for which it is named, is rather large and stocky compared to other members of this group and it is one of this kingbird's most distinguishing characteristics. The call is a loud, whistled pwaareeet.
  
  ## Breeding
  
  They make a nest in a tree branch, usually close to the trunk above 6 meters high. The female lays three to five eggs.
  
  ## Migration
  
  These birds are mostly resident in territories year round, but birds in the United States will retreat southward for the winter.
  
  ## Diet
  
  They wait on an open perch usually rather high or on top of the tree and fly out to catch insects in flight, (hawking).
  
  