Eastern Kingbirds fledging the nest at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on July 7, 2018

There is a Eastern Kingbird nest many birders have been watching for the last month at Greenfield Park. Today was the day and an amazing day watching the young leave the nest, I just happened to be there. Two adults have been feeding the young right along for the month plus at in the nest. All of the sudden, a fledgling on the top edge of the nest, then out it flew about 2 feet. A minute later up popped up another fledgling in the nest and up on the edge of the nest it went. That bird flew a little farther, about 4 feet from the nest. Adults came around and feed them a few times rotating between birds. At one time and adult bird  landed next to a fledgling and preened. A moment later the fledgling preened too, just like class! It was so fun to watch all this in a few minutes. It was a gorgeous day with perfect temps, 70, full sun, with a light breeze. Images were taken on July 7, 2018.

1st Eastern Kingbird fledgling ready to make the maiden flight from the nest.

Makes the landing a couple feet from the nest with a little struggle with balance at first…

Looking back at the nest where it just came from…

An adult lands at the nest and checks on the 2nd young bird…

1st bird is calling to the adult losing some balance…

The adult says to the young, it is time to leave the nest with the 1st bird behind it…

The 2nd fledgling lands about 4 feet from the nest and the adult quickly lands next to it…

1st fledgling calling for an adult…

The adult comes over and preens in front of the fledgling to show how it is done…

Seconds later, the fledgling preens just like the adult did…

The adult feeds the 1st bird…

Another feeding to the first fledgling…

 

Eastern Kingbird eating Sumac berries at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 16, 2017

I came across a pair of Eastern Kingbirds today eating sumac berries at Lake Park in Milwaukee. Some Gray Catbirds enjoyed the berries too along with some American Robins. These few Sumac plants at the park have been a food source for some many bird species this year it is amazing. It looked like to me these plants have plenty of food remaining on them too. Just part of a fun day out birding looking for warblers which there were some all over, but hard to get the list real big on the species you would expect to see this time of year. A cool start to the day but come noon it was hot out with good winds from the south. Mostly sunny skies, high was around 88 degrees. Images were taken on May 16, 2017.

Eastern Kingbird with a sumac berry…

Eastern Kingbird

Binomial name: Tyrannus tyrannus

Category: Tyrant Flycatchers

Size: 8.5” long, 15” wing span

Weight: 1.4 oz

Getting something good here…

Just posing…

Stabilizing after a gust of wind…

Gulp!

Maybe the most common pose we see the Eastern Kingbird in…