Nests are of wood chips in cavities excavated about 20 feet high in willow, honey locust, ash, apple, and pear.
Eastern Kingbird: Tyrannus tyrannus (Linnaeus).—This summer resident is common throughout the east; it is local in the west but there maintains conspicuous numbers in favorable places, such as riparian woodland; preferred habitat in eastern sectors is typically in woodland edge. Temporal occurrence is indicated in [Table 13].
Breeding season.—Sixty-three dates of egg-laying span the period May 11 to July 20 ([Fig. 5]); the modal date for completion of clutches is June 15. Nearly 70 per cent of all eggs are laid in June.
Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is 3 eggs (3.3, 2-3; 10). Clutches are probably larger than the average in May and smaller in June and July.
Nests are placed in crotches, terminal forks, and some on tops of limbs, about 16 feet high, in elm, sycamore, honey locust, willow, oak, apple, and red cedar.
Western Kingbird: Tyrannus verticalis Say.—This summer resident is common in the west, but is local and less abundant in the east. Preferred habitat is in woodland edge, open country with scattered trees, and in towns. Temporal occurrence is indicated in [Table 13]. Breeding schedule.—The 124 dates of egg-laying span the period May 11 to July 31 ([Fig. 5]); the modal date for egg-laying is June 15. More than 70 per cent of all clutches are laid in June.
Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is 4 eggs (3.6, 3-4; 8).
Nests are placed in crotches, lateral forks, or on horizontal limbs, about 26 feet high, in cottonwood, elm, osage orange, hackberry, honey locust, mulberry, oak, and on power poles.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: Muscivora forficata (Gmelin).—This summer resident is common in central and southern Kansas; it is rare to absent in the northwestern sector, and is local in the northeast. Preferred habitat is in open country with scattered trees. Temporal occurrence is indicated in [Table 13].
Breeding schedule.—Twenty-eight records of breeding occur from May 21 to July 10 ([Fig. 5]); the modal date of egg-laying is June 25. The present sample of records is small, and there is otherwise no evidence suggesting that the breeding schedule of this species differs from those of the other two kingbirds in Kansas.