EASTERN KING BIRD
I am having a slight problem with Eastern King Birds using my Martin housing perches. As a rule, they don't mess with the Martins but on more than one occasion they have tangled. I know the Martins don't care for them but they tolerate their presence. The King Bird is bad to the bone and will take on anything that flies. I am concerned that sooner or later one or more Martins will be killed by these birds. Repeatedly scaring them off does not work. Any suggestions?
dc1gator@CoyoteRidge
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
I'm not an expert on Eastern Kingbirds, but I found this:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBi ... d_dtl.html
What an interesting bird - drives off the hawks and other predators....I did not know that tidbit! Sounds like a desirable guy to have around. My kingbirds tend to stay farther down the field from my Martin house, on a pile of a few dead trees, but that's their choice, I didn't do anything to drive them there.
Maybe another perch mounted farther away from your martin house and closer to another open area would attract them? Since they also catch insects on the fly, they might appreciate their own perch from which to pounce.
Hope you find a solution!
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBi ... d_dtl.html
What an interesting bird - drives off the hawks and other predators....I did not know that tidbit! Sounds like a desirable guy to have around. My kingbirds tend to stay farther down the field from my Martin house, on a pile of a few dead trees, but that's their choice, I didn't do anything to drive them there.
Maybe another perch mounted farther away from your martin house and closer to another open area would attract them? Since they also catch insects on the fly, they might appreciate their own perch from which to pounce.
Hope you find a solution!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Guest
Wow, Kathy, that's great to know. I've been seeing a kingbird here for about the past week, and now I think I'm glad to have him. That won't change my owl guard plans, though 
I have watched these birds for a couple years now and watched them get after hawks, crows and other types. They are a very aggressive bird with a sharp beak and can put the hurts on other birds. It is good that they chase hawks and crows but not worth their presence if they kill one martin. It seems that everyone has problems with starlings but I haven't had a single starling land on the houses. We have a pond and the starlings nest down there. I was just wondering if anyone else had had a problem with Kingbirds.lilyrose wrote:Wow, Kathy, that's great to know. I've been seeing a kingbird here for about the past week, and now I think I'm glad to have him. That won't change my owl guard plans, though
dc1gator@CoyoteRidge
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Guest
Well, I may be wrong, but being that martins are not predatory, and they don't compete for nest sites, and they don't typically harrass other birds, I would be surprised if kingbirds harmed them, but then you never know until you see it.
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Guest
Hello All,
I have a pair of Western Kingbirds (yellow underneath) w/ a baby (just learning to fly) and they are fine w/ my martins!!!! I have seen them chase away the Mockingbirds but other than that no signs of aggression, they all seem to enjoy (or tolerate, not sure) each other.
I have a pair of Western Kingbirds (yellow underneath) w/ a baby (just learning to fly) and they are fine w/ my martins!!!! I have seen them chase away the Mockingbirds but other than that no signs of aggression, they all seem to enjoy (or tolerate, not sure) each other.
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Guest
An interesting post just a few weeks ago regarding the Western Kingbird containing useful information on its' eastern cousin:
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7777
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7777
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
I've seen our Kingbirds chase a couple of hawks away and crows too, but as I said earlier, they tend to stay towards the meadow portion of our property, so I haven't experienced any problems with them. Looks like each player in nature's game has a role to play, we just need to help them figure out the rules.
Since they seem to like the pile of dead trees and flit around to the ocassional "bush" in the field, I think I'll plant a couple of live trees in their place after I burn the dead ones and maybe put up a perching pole down there too!
Keeping my fingers crossed!
Since they seem to like the pile of dead trees and flit around to the ocassional "bush" in the field, I think I'll plant a couple of live trees in their place after I burn the dead ones and maybe put up a perching pole down there too!
Keeping my fingers crossed!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
It is strange that the ASY and the Kingbird will perch inches apart with no problem most of the time. On two occasions that I have witnessed they have violently clashed and the martin tucked-tail and retreated. In addition to going after hawks and crows, the Kingbirds have attacked Killdeer and I suspect that a female Killdeer that just up and disappeared was killed by the Kingbird.
On one hand we have a cute bird that serves a valuable purpose in the balance of nature and on the other we have a bully that can (and does)
manhandle most other birds. BTW, there are plenty of nearby perches for the Kingbirds. They use them all but seem to prefer the martin houses.
For now, I plan to keep a close eye on what happens. I am a first year landlord (FYL) :>) and my resident pair will have 4 young fledging around 2 July. I certainly hope the Kingbirds don't attack them. Should one more attack on a martin occur the Kings might become Queens. :>)
On one hand we have a cute bird that serves a valuable purpose in the balance of nature and on the other we have a bully that can (and does)
manhandle most other birds. BTW, there are plenty of nearby perches for the Kingbirds. They use them all but seem to prefer the martin houses.
For now, I plan to keep a close eye on what happens. I am a first year landlord (FYL) :>) and my resident pair will have 4 young fledging around 2 July. I certainly hope the Kingbirds don't attack them. Should one more attack on a martin occur the Kings might become Queens. :>)
dc1gator@CoyoteRidge
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Guest
I love my western kb's but your post was nicely put.... Queens!!! ha;;;
Good Luck and keep a close watch on July 2, and even the 1st!
Good Luck and keep a close watch on July 2, and even the 1st!