The Great Kiskadee

While wandering the lagoon of Xel-ha, I was delighted when I discovered a bird I have not seen since visiting Harlingen,Texas (which is along the Rio Grande and serves as the gateway to South Padre Island). 

What?? You have never even heard of Harlingen, Texas???  

Let’s just say that when Southwest’s flight attendant made his final flight announcement, he said, “We thank you all for flying Southwest and wish you a pleasant evening in Harlingen, and if your travel plans call for taking you to another destination tonight?  Good Luck!”

In any event…as I walked the fringes of the lagoon, I saw this large bird perch atop the brush and survey the water.  He also scanned the tables at the restaurant nearby for leftovers that might be unattended.   Apart from his large size, I noted his yellow belly and a distinctive black eye streak, and knew, at once, he was a Great Kiskadee! 

Kiskadees are part of the  tyrant flycatcher family – passerines- and quite aggressive at that!  They do not shrink from mobbing hawks, and are as eager to grab some of Fido’s food, or your enchiladas, as to snatch insects from the air.   At Cornell’s ornithology website (which is by subscription), it is noted that their black mask may serve to reduce glare (not unlike the black masks used by football players to help them see the ball).  The other interesting fact about these birds is that their yellow coloration helps to discourage some predators (other yellow flycatchers reportedly do not have a particularly savory taste!).

Unfortunately, the evening was cloudy; thus, the brilliance of the bird’s coloration is slightly muted, as is the blue of the lagoon water.  I tried to compose this photo so that the triangle from the branches highlights his position.  There was a tug of war between the blue I wanted in the water and the desire to avoid a green belly! 

Kiskadees, while not rare, are not found much farther north than Texas, their range is primarily through Mexico and Central America although they also can fly as far south as Argentina, thus, I thought the photo might still be of interest for those living well away from those regions.