Kingbird

a large species belonging to the flycatcher family. The kingbird is so called from the zeal with which he drives crows and hawks from the vicinity of his nest. Also called bee-bird, from an inveterate habit of stationing himself, flycatcher fashion, on a perch near beehives, from which he darts off and back again, snapping up a bee at each trip. Kingbirds are welcomed by poultry raisers and are dreaded by bee keepers. The kingbird is a slate-colored bird; underparts white: tail black, tipped with white. The head is crested with a concealed orange-red spot that no one would suspect. Nests are built at ends of branches ten to twenty-five feet up. in prairie countries the bird is apt to build on fence-corners. Eggs, three to five, white, spotted with amber.