The Times News coverage area has two “kings.” Well, I’m really not sure how many kings are here, but I’m referencing two bird species: the kingbird and belted kingfisher.

Kingbirds are our largest flycatcher bird species in this area. They are summer residents (breeds in this area) and in their preferred habitat are fairly common. They are 8-9 inches in size, a bit smaller than a robin.

Kingbirds got their name because of their tenacity. They do not tolerate other threatening birds in their territories. If a crow strays too close to their nest, mate or young, the kingbird will dash from its perch and aggressively chase the crow from the area. I have actually seen them peck the backs of crows to “get their attention.”

Kingbirds are a very dark gray with a darker head and an all-white breast/belly. They have a characteristic white edging of their tail feathers as a great field mark for you to help identify them.

Kingbirds feed on flying insects, like moths by darting from their perch, snagging the insect, and often flying back to the same perch to wait for another insect to fly near it. They are not deep forest birds and in fact prefer a pasture edge, streamside vegetation or even city parks. The Lizard Creek area I frequent, as well as Beltzville State Park and Mauch Chunk Lake Park are good areas to observe them.

As you might expect, since they feed on flying insects, the kingbirds don’t usually arrive in our area until the first week of May. By early September, they begin their southerly migration back to the Western Amazon Forest area.

Their numbers are dropping, not because of our area’s growth, but by loss of vital wintering areas in South America. While wintering, they change their diet from insects to types of small fruits.

Our other “king” is the belted kingfisher. Kingfishers apparently got their name from being such great fish catchers. Well actually, they catch mostly minnows. The belted kingfisher is the only species of kingfisher east of the Mississippi River.

Kingfishers are about 10 inches in size with a bill that almost looks too big for their heads. They are often seen perched on a streamside branch or even a utility line that passes over a pond, stream, or river. They sometimes fly from that perch to spear a minnow or can hover above the water watching for the right moment before diving headfirst into the water.

Males and females can be distinguished by the male having a brown breast band which is absent in the female. They actually nest in a streamside burrow that they excavate themselves. They do require a sandy or silty type stream bank in order to nest successfully. If a streamside sand bank is not available, they might nest a considerable distance from water.

Most kingfishers migrate, but I have seen a few overwinter when the lakes do not “ice over.”

Both kingbirds and kingfishers are rather noisy birds. A kingfisher “rattle” often alerts you to their approach. Kingbirds chatter, almost like they are boasting, after snagging an insect. Look for both of these “kings” in your nature treks this spring and summer.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: How many flycatcher species can be found nesting in Pennsylvania? A. 2, B. 4, C. 8, D. 15 or more.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Of the 11 warbler species I highlighted two weeks ago, only the Cape May warbler doesn’t breed in our area.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.