Tropical Kingbirds were first detected breeding in Arizona in 1938 (Tucson), but remained scarce and local until recent decades. They are now well established breeders in areas of permanent water in Southeastern Arizona. They specialize in taking large flying insects in mid-air. We were pleased to see three birds at this locality chasing each other and calling. Three races of this widespread neotropical species are currently recognized. This is T. m. satrapa which breeds from Arizona through Central America to northern South America. Two other darker races are found in South America. The darkest, (nominate T. m. melancholicus) has been collected on the Farallon Islands.
Birds assumed to be T. m. satrapa are seen along the coast of California in late Fall and Winter but the Farallon specimen was in August and well outside the expected occurrence time-frame.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter)