Sounds of the Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Shortcut: Sparks jumping between wires

Song: Males sing at the break of dawn and sometimes at dusk, giving a complex series of stuttering, high-pitched notes sounding like sparks jumping between wires: t-t-t't't't'-tzeet-tzeeert, repeated time and again.

Call: Common calls include a high, buzzy ktzee and a ringing ktseet. A rapid outburst of high notes known as the kitter call is given as a greeting call when members of a family come together: kitter-kitter-kitter-kitter.