Definition of Kingbird

1. Noun. Large American flycatcher.


Definition of Kingbird

1. n. A small American bird (Tyrannus tyrannus, or T. Carolinensis), noted for its courage in attacking larger birds, even hawks and eagles, especially when they approach its nest in the breeding season. It is a typical tyrant flycatcher, taking various insects upon the wing. It is dark ash above, and blackish on the head and tail. The quills and wing coverts are whitish at the edges. It is white beneath, with a white terminal band on the tail. The feathers on the head of the adults show a bright orange basal spot when erected. Called also bee bird, and bee martin. Several Southern and Western species of Tyrannus are also called king birds.

Definition of Kingbird

1. Noun. A group of large insectivorous passerine birds of the genus Tyrannus ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Kingbird

1. an American bird [n -S]

Medical Definition of Kingbird

1. 1. A small American bird (Tyrannus, or T. Carolinensis), noted for its courage in attacking larger birds, even hawks and eagles, especially when they approach its nest in the breeding season. It is a typical tyrant flycatcher, taking various insects upon the wing. It is dark ash above, and blackish on the bead and tail. The quills and wing coverts are whitish at the edges. It is white beneath, with a white terminal band on the tail. The feathers on the head of the adults show a bright orange basal spot when erected. Called also bee bird, and bee martin. Several Southern and Western species of Tyrannus are also called king birds. 2. The king tody. See King. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Kingbird

king oyster mushroom
king oyster mushrooms
king pair
king pairs
king penguin
king penguins
king post
king protea
king salmon
king skin
king snake
king tide
king tides
king vulture
king whiting
kingbird (current term)
kingbirds
kingbolt
kingbolts
kingcake
kingcraft
kingcrafts
kingcup
kingcups
kingdom
kingdom Animalia
kingdom Fungi
kingdom Monera
kingdom Plantae
kingdom Protoctista

Literary usage of Kingbird

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Auk: Quarterly Journal of Ornithology by American Ornithologists' Union, Nuttall Ornithological Club (1898)
"... iI suppose it is the same kingbird which, with another, nests near by.— THOMAS B. BERGEN, Cambridge, Muss. Habits of the Blue Jay. ..."

2. The American Naturalist by American Society of Naturalists, Essex Institute (1872)
"THE kingbird OR BEE MARTIN.— In the rural life of American boys it is always with pleasure that the frequent scene is beheld of the kingbird (Tyrannus ..."

3. Bird Portraits by Ernest Thompson Seton, Ralph Hoffmann (1901)
"The kingbird, in particular, the head of the house, is noted for his constant attacks on ... The kingbird gets above his victim and darts down at its head; ..."

4. The Second Book of Birds: Bird Families by Harriet (Mann) Miller, Olive Thorne Miller (1901)
"The Western kingbird differs in color from the Eastern. ... For the Western kingbird, the ARKANSAS kingbird of the books, is a rather jolly fellow, ..."

5. Popular Science News (1902)
"One of the longest of these he ever wrote was on the kingbird, ... We have as the type of this group the kingbird, a species found all over North ..."

6. Sketches of Some Common Birds by P[erley] M[ilton] Silloway (1897)
"Once in August a kingbird that was perched on the telegraph wire ahead of me audaciously attacked a young red-headed woodpecker not yet in permanent colors, ..."

7. The Wilson Bulletin by Wilson Ornithological Club, Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Wilson Ornithological Society (1904)
"AN IMPROVIDENT kingbird. LYNDS JONES. One of the Oberlin public school teachers has given me a ... kingbird ..."

8. Library of Natural History by Richard Lydekker (1901)
"The kingbird arrives in its summer haunts in April and May, and prolongs its sojourn until September, when it migrates south. The male has the crown flame ..."

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