Tyrannus melancholicus (A rarity!!)

Had an exceptional day birding the Arcata Marsh today!

The bird before you is a Tropical Kingbird. Tropical as in, the tropics. As in, it's supposed to be in Central America, not northern California. It's in fact the rarest bird I've ever seen. It's one of two we found today. They've been spotted for at least a week in one area of the marsh; it took about 10 minutes of hanging around to find them.

The kingbirds are a type of tyrant (i.e. New World) flycatcher, many species of which share similar plumage: lemon yellow breast, white face, grayish wings and back, and black to brown tail. Species are distinguished from one another by slight differences in these features. Two species of yellow-breasted kingbird breed in California--the Cassin's and the Western, both of whose breasts are partially gray and whose tails are straight across. With the fully yellow breast, notched tail, and trilling call, there's no mistaking this bird for any other species than a Tropical Kingbird.

I am so thrilled to have seen these birds!!

*****

If it hadn't been for the rarest most awesome bird sighting of my life, this beauty would've made her way into the Blipverse.

More of the kingbirds: a closer close-up + the wayward pair together.