Kingbirds & Flycatchers

Kingbirds & Flycatchers: Photographing Nature’s Feathered Fighter Jets

By Mike – Chronicler of Tiny Tyrants

Table of Contents

The Day I Met a Tyrant

I was photographing ducks (easy targets) when something buzzed my head like a kamikaze drone. A kingbird – no bigger than my hand – was dive-bombing a red-tailed hawk twenty times its size. That’s when I realized: in the bird world, attitude matters more than size. I’ve been obsessed with these tiny tyrants ever since.

Flycatchers and kingbirds don’t pose. They don’t sit still. They’re here, there, and gone before your autofocus can blink. My camera roll is full of blurry wing streaks and empty branches where a bird just was. But when everything aligns? Pure winged magic.

Kingbirds and Flycatchers Photo Albums

Why These Birds Break My Camera (And My Spirit)

Eastern Kingbird perched on branch with insect in beak showcasing its hunting skills in natural habitat. Perfect example of Eastern Kingbird feeding behavior.

1. The Airborne Acrobatics

Flycatchers can change direction mid-air faster than a sneeze. Their aerial moves make fighter pilots look lazy.
Photography fail: I once shot 300 frames of an empty perch because the bird kept leaving as I pressed the shutter.

2. The Tiny Tyrant Complex

Personal story: Watched one chase off a bald eagle. The eagle looked genuinely embarrassed.

Kingbirds earned their name by attacking crows, hawks – even drones and my hat once.

3. The Vanishing Act

Pewees return to the exact same perch between flights… after making you wait just long enough to lower your camera.
Camera tip: Pre-focus on the favorite perch and use burst mode when they return.

4. The Identity Crisis

Many flycatchers look identical except for their calls. Even scientists argue about them.
Confession: I have a folder called “Maybe Willow Flycatcher??” with 47 nearly identical photos.

My Most Absurd Flycatcher Moments

The Time I Became a Perch
Was photographing a phoebe when it landed on my lens hood. We both froze. I didn’t breathe for a full minute until it flew off.

The Great Kingbird War
Documented two kingbirds battling over a fence post for three straight hours. Got amazing action shots and a sunburn.

The Flycatcher That Fooled Merlin
Even the bird ID app gave up on my photos of a confusing fall empidonax. Some mysteries remain unsolved.

The “Nesting Material” Incident
A scissor-tailed flycatcher stole my bright orange lens cloth for its nest. I let it keep it – that’s dedication to art.

Photography Tips (Mostly Learned Through Failure)

Master the “Wait-and-Swear” Technique
They always catch insects the millisecond you look away. It’s science.
Eyes Like a Flycatcher
Learn their favorite perches (dead branches, wires, fence posts) and stake them out.
Lighting is Everything
Backlight turns their wing feathers translucent. Side light reveals every tiny feather.
Embrace the Blurs
A slightly out-of-focus action shot with personality beats a perfect boring pose.

Meet the Tiny Tyrants [Your Photo Galleries Here]

Eastern Kingbird

Cool fact: That white tail tip is like a “back off” warning light to predators.
My shot: One mid-air combat with a much bigger bird. David vs. Goliath vibes.

Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

Cool fact: Their absurdly long tail is like a fighter jet’s afterburners.
Camera win: Caught one with tail streamers glowing in sunset light.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Cool fact: They nest in tree cavities and always include a snakeskin (real or plastic!).
Fun find: Photographed one stealing a piece of my neighbor’s garden hose for its nest decor.

Least Flycatcher

Cool fact: Weigh less than two pennies but migrate thousands of miles.
Personal triumph: Finally got a clean shot of one after 3 summers of trying.

Why These Birds Matter

These insect-eaters are nature’s pest control. One kingbird can eat hundreds of flies daily. Many species are declining due to habitat loss and insect population crashes. That’s why I leave my yard a little “messy” with native plants – bugs need homes so flycatchers can eat them!

Your Turn to Try

Spotting tips for beginners:

Listen for loud “che-bek!” or “pewee!” calls in summer
Watch for quick flights from perches and returns
Check fence lines and dead branches – their favorite stages

You don’t need a fancy camera – even phone videos can capture their crazy aerial moves. Just don’t expect them to care about your photography plans.

Happy birding,
Mike
FawkesFocus.com

P.S. My neighbors think I’m crazy for staring at “just some little brown bird” for hours. They’re not wrong.

My Birding Albums
Birds of Prey ←
↑ Raptors rule the skies on their own terms. My photos capture hawks, owls, and eagles as they really are – powerful hunters going about their business. No staged shots here, just real moments of wild behavior. Every image represents hours of waiting for that perfect dive, strike, or takeoff.
Gamebirds ←
↑ Gamebirds embody nature’s perfect balance of elegance and resilience—from the regal strut of a ring-necked pheasant to the thunderous flush of a ruffed grouse. These birds thrive at the edge of flight and camouflage, masters of their domain. Here, I aim to capture their fleeting moments of wild authenticity.
Herons and Egrets ←
↑ Patience perfected. Whether standing statue-still in golden light or striking like lightning through water, herons and egrets move with otherworldly grace. These images chase the quiet drama of their hunts—where every ripple and reflection tells a story.
Kingbirds and Flycatchers ←
↑ Tyrants of the treetops—kingbirds chase off hawks twice their size, while flycatchers perform aerial acrobatics mid-hunt. These small but fierce birds rule their perches with sharp eyes and even sharper reflexes. Here, I try to freeze their split-second energy in frames. Proof that attitude isn’t measured in grams.
Pelicans ←
↑ Living fossils with wings, pelicans move with prehistoric grace—whether gliding inches above waves or collapsing into the water like feathered cannonballs. Their effortless grandeur hides a fierce precision: every plunge is a masterclass in survival. These frames capture their paradox of power and serenity.
Shorebirds ←
↑ Fast-moving and always busy, shorebirds work the tides like clockwork. Sandpipers, plovers, and other walkers chase the water’s edge, probing for food with relentless focus. My shots capture their nonstop action – running from waves, sudden takeoffs, and the occasional pause. It’s all about timing and anticipating their next move.
Songbirds and Perching Birds ←
↑ Nature’s finest performers—bursting with color, song, and personality. From jewel-toned warblers to boisterous wrens, these small wonders turn every branch into a stage. My lens chases their fleeting vibrance: a flicker of wings, a stolen note, the quiet intensity of a sparrow’s gaze.
Waterbirds and Waders ←
↑ Ducks and geese live life on the water and in the air. Whether dabbling in shallow marshes or flying in tight formations, they’re built for efficiency. My photos show their daily routines – feeding, preening, taking off, and landing. No staged shots, just real behavior as it happens.
Woodpeckers and Tree Foragers←
↑ Nature’s carpenters—armed with chisel beaks and jackhammer rhythm, they turn deadwood into drumlines and insect buffets. From the clownish flicker to the elusive pileated, these birds don’t just live in trees; they unlock them. Here, I chase their percussive lives: a flash of red, a spray of bark, the echo of their work ringing through the forest.

Kingbirds & Flycatchers