Introduction
The Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tryannus) is relatively common in BCR 14. It prefers open areas with scattered trees to perch in for feeding. It is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in at least one state in BCR14.
Habitat Needs
This bird frequents open areas with scattered trees or tall shrubs to perch in while hunting for insects or defending its territory. It will use shrubby wetlands associated with but not limited to soils in the IIB Important Forest Soil group such as; Bemis, Binghamville, Brayton, Cabot, Grange, Kinsman, Leicester, Leicester cool, Leicester variant, Lyme, Mashpee, Monarda, Monarda variant, Moosilauke, Naumburg, Pemi, Pillsbury, Pillsbury variant, Raynham, Raynham cool, Raypol, Ridgebury, Roundabout, Scantic, Scitico, Shaker, Squamscott, Stissing, Swanton, Wareham, Walpole.
Other habitats include old fields, hay fields, hedgerows or other similar situations as long as there are perches available.
Its territory size is 5 acres or less.
Habitat Management Practices
Maintain openings of at least 5 acres with scattered trees or tall shrubs throughout.
The openings can be maintained by a variety of farming practices such as haying or grazing, as long as the perches are retained. Maintenance of these areas can also be accomplished through periodic brush hogging. Brush hog so that a third of the total area in this open condition is treated annually.