The Great Kiskadee is a large member of the flycatcher family. It is about 9–10 inches (22.9–25.4 cm) long, with a wingspan of about 13–14 inches (33.0–35.6 cm).
It has a bold, colorful appearance. Its head is black with bright white stripes on the crown and sides, including a clear white stripe above each eye. Its throat is white, and its chest and belly are bright yellow. Its back and wings are brown. Its bill and legs are black.
The Great Kiskadee lives in open woodlands, streamside thickets*, groves, orchards, and parks.
*A thicket is a dense group of bushes, shrubs, or small trees that grow very close together.
Mating season begins in late March. The female Great Kiskadee lays 2-5 creamy-white and brown-speckled eggs in a domed nest made of sticks, grass, moss, and bark. The nest has a single entry hole and is lined with soft materials like wool and feathers. The nest is usually built in a thorn tree or bush. Both parents defend the nesting territory and care for the young. Kiskadees are monogamous*.
The great Kiskadee has a lifespan of around 7 years in the wild.
*Monogamous pairs mate with a single partner.
The Great Kiskadee travels in pairs and aggressively protects its nesting territory. One of its most feared predators is the coral snake. The Great Kiskadee will avoid anything with the same color pattern as the coral snake.
The Great Kiskadee is named for its loud “kis-ka-dee” call.
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The Great Kiskadee is found from extreme southern Texas south to Argentina.
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