Photo: dominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Giant Kingbird
Tyrannus cubensis
Giant Kingbird (Tyrannus cubensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
The Giant Kingbird (Tyrannus cubensis) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 93.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Tyrannus
- Species cubensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 93.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Giant Kingbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Giant Kingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Giant Kingbird (Tyrannus cubensis) is a member of the Tyrannidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA Cuba.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 93.6 g, with a wing length of about 13.2 cm and a tail of around 9.2 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3,190 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Giant Kingbird?
The Giant Kingbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 93.6 g.
Where does the Giant Kingbird live?
The Giant Kingbird is found across North America with a range covering NA Cuba, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Giant Kingbird belong to?
The Giant Kingbird (Tyrannus cubensis) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Giant Kingbird eat?
The Giant Kingbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Giant Kingbird migrate?
The Giant Kingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Giant Kingbird endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Giant Kingbird make?
1 real field recording of the Giant Kingbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Giant Kingbird's range?
The Giant Kingbird has a mapped global range of about 3,190 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Tyrannidae
A field guide to the Tyrannidae family — 444 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.