29 August 2025
Although jap kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) are smaller than robins they’re referred to as kings as a result of they win so many battles.
Assaults by Japanese Kingbirds on nest predators akin to corvids, raptors, and even giant, nonpredatory birds are legendary. Aggressiveness will increase the possibilities that an energetic nest will fledge younger.
Unsuspecting Blue Jays have been knocked out of timber or pushed to floor to hunt shelter beneath bushes. Flying crows, all Buteo hawks, Northern Harrier and mainly all raptors are attacked at any time when they enter kingbird’s defended area.
— Birds of the World: Japanese Kingbird Habits: Responses to predators
When an jap kingbird is particularly aggravated it shows the purple crown that’s often hidden beneath darkish head feathers. This one is considering attacking somebody possibly a predator, possibly one other kingbird, or possibly any chook that dares to enter his territory.
[The kingbird] additionally makes use of a very startling show throughout vigorous assaults on people and presumably different predators. Whereas in steep dive towards predator’s head, an Japanese Kingbird could expose and lift purple crown patch and open mouth vast to disclose purple gape. The impact is dramatic and has precipitated a minimum of one human to just about lose his grip and fall from a tree (M.T.Murphy).
— Birds of the World: Japanese Kingbird Habits: Responses to predators
That’s precisely what Ed McKaveney (@edtechfocus) noticed when a kingbird attacked a raven on 10 August. What an incredible motion shot!
