In a recent edition of The Miami Herald the arrival of a special Bahamian bird was reported in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park at Key West. The unexpected sighting was a Loggerhead Kingbird (Tyrannus caudifasciatus bahamensis) which until then had never been seen in the United States!

Since that historic day, birders from at least 25 States have traveled to Key West to take a look at the bird. He had become a celebrity and everywhere the bird flew a crowd with binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras followed. During the first weekend of its arrival over 500 birders from across the United States were able to add the Loggerhead Kingbird to their Birding Life List a cherished log that every self-respecting birder keeps.

There have been a handful of reports of Loggerhead Kingbirds in the United States, however, none could be confirmed due to lack of documentation. In 2000 the American Birding Association removed the bird from its official list of birds seen in the United States while the Florida Ornithological Society removed the Loggerhead Kingbird from its state list of observed birds in 2003! Now both organizations will have to re-write their official lists once again!

And just who is this Bahamian celebrity that is trying to catch our attention with its dry rattling call when we are rushing to work in the morning? We Grand Bahamians take him for granted, don’t even give him a first or second look and, worse yet, don’t even know anything about him!

The Loggerhead Kingbird is one of four species of flycatchers that occur on our island. He is a permanent resident and quite common on Grand Bahama, Abaco and Andros but only fairly common on New Providence due to the disappearance of pine forests and woodlands.   He is not found on any other islands in the Bahamas. The bird’s habitats are pine forest, hardwoods and gardens. Flying insects are the main diet but he also enjoys berries and small lizards. He has keen eyesight, a broad, flat bill with bristles at the base that makes him well adapted for capturing insects. He feeds by flying from a perch, snatching an insect in mid-air, and returning to a perch where he will enjoy his catch!

It is a fact that a Prime Minister governs the Bahamas but it is the   Bahamian “King” that rules in the United States!