Thick-billed Kingbird

(Tyrannus crassirostris)

eBird gives this description for the Thick-billed Kingbird:  Large kingbird with huge bill. Rather dark grayish-brown above with white throat and pale yellow wash on belly. Overall color and bill size make this kingbird unlikely to be mistaken. Most common in riparian woodlands with cottonwood trees; often perches up conspicuously. Also occurs in other wooded habitats like thorn forest and oak scrub. Gives some squeaky calls and twitters.

I saw, and photographed my first Thick-billed Kingbird on the early evening of August 3, 2022, perched along the road to California Gulch.  I was with a small group that was part of the 2022 Southwest Wings Birding Festival, led by our guide Richard Fray.  I also saw the Thick-billed Kingbird at Rancho Santa Cruz and near the Santa Cruz River near Tubac, later in our trip.  To read my blog post about my trip  that includes my sightings of this bird, look here.