Couch's Kingbird © flickr.com

Closest relatives of genus may be Empidonomus and Tyrannopsis. Recent molecular-sequence data indicate present genus is monophyletic and sister-group to clade that includes Empidonomus and Griseotyrannus. There are two main clades within genus, loosely corresponding to "tropical species assemblage" and combination of "W" and "E" species groups of earlier authors, but with some exceptions. Formerly treated as conspecific with Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) owing to limited hybridization in Mexico (southern Veracruz, Atlantic slope of northern Oaxaca), and possibly intergrades with it, but differs significantly in voice. Furthermore, recent molecular data indicate that these two are not each other's closest relatives, but that present species is part of a clade within the "tropical assemblage" that also includes White-throated Kingbird (Tyrannus albogularis) and Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana), although relationships among these remain uncertain. Has been suggested, on basis of similarities in voice and certain aspects of behaviour, that this species may be closest to Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans), Thick-billed Kingbird (Tyrannus crassirostris) and Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis), although this not supported by molecular data. A probable hybrid with Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) is reported from New York (USA). Northern birds said to have longer wing and those from Yucatán Peninsula (proposed as subspecies chloronotus) have longer bill than individuals from Guatemala and Belize, but differences insufficient to warrant naming of geographical subspecies.


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BirdLife International For more information about the Couchs Kingbird see... BirdLife International Species Factsheet. Articles about the Couchs Kingbird If you would like to read any articles about the Couchs Kingbird... Show Articles (0) No Pictures of Couchs Kingbird If Birdpedia has no pictures of Couchs Kingbird or you would like to see more, then try the following...       From BING (9) No Videos of Couchs Kingbird If Birdpedia has no videos of Couchs Kingbird or you would like to see more, then try the following..       From BING (0) Where can I observe this species? Select an area (or leave blank) to see locations where this species has been recorded. Area   BELIZE OCEAN   All    Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or   Find GPS using Google Maps Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings On What Field Trips was this species observed? Select an area (or leave blank), and a date range, to see field trips on which this species has been recorded. Area   BELIZE OCEAN   All    From To     Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings Latest Sightings for Couchs Kingbird Select the Area to restrict the Sightings. Area   BELIZE OCEAN   All