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Platte River Status: A common migrant and nesting species across the study area. Dates of occurrence at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 2 May to 19 September. Tout (1947) recorded this species commonly in Lincoln County during 2 May to 24 September. Rosche (1979) found the eastern kingbird in the lower North Platte River Valley during 6 May to 11 September.

Breeding Range: A common nesting species in the Platte River Valley, Eastern Plain and Dissected Plain physiographic regions. Uncommon and more local during the nesting season in the Sandhills (where limited by the availability of nest sites), and on the Western Plain.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 65,000 nesting pairs. Eastern kingbird ranked 15th in abundance among all bird species, and made up 2.2% of the total bird population those years.

Habitat: We found the highest mean breeding densities in shelterbelts (156.7 pairs/km²), followed by wetland (10.5 pairs/km²), lowland forest (10.0 pairs/km²), residential (5.2 pairs/km²), river channel islands (5.2 pairs/km²), wet prairie (3.7 pairs/km²), alfalfa (3.2 pairs/km²), domestic hayland (2.5 pairs/km²), corn (2.0 pairs/km²), and upland prairie (1.5 pairs/km²). Eastern kingbirds recorded in open habitats such as agricultural crop fields were probably encountered while the birds were foraging, because no substrate suitable for nest placement exists in those habitats. Rising (1974) found that eastern kingbird exhibits an apparent preference for riparian habitats in western Kansas. Faanes and Andrew (1983) found eastern kingbird an uncommon nesting species at the edge of forested habitats, agricultural fields, and remnant grasslands in northeastern North Dakota. Faanes (1983) reported highest nesting densities on a western North Dakota study area were associated with dense shrub growth among small forest islands. Graber and Graber (1963) reported a nesting season density of 83.7 birds per km² from northern Illinois edge habitats.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Eastern kingbird has benefited from de-watering of the Platte River system and the subsequent establishment of wooded vegetation in the river channel. Alteration of native grasslands, especially through planting of shelterbelts, has also benefited the species. Graber and Graber (1963) observed a 65% reduction in the eastern kingbird population nesting in Illinois during 1909 to 1958. Much of the decline was attributed to loss of orchards and pastureland, coupled with an increase in area of contiguous forest tracts. Because roadside vegetation provides an important habitat for eastern kingbirds, roadside spraying with pesticides may have played an important role in the population decline.

Nesting Data: We have records of eight confirmed nests from the Mormon Island Crane Meadows and five from other regions of the study area. The peak of egg laying occurred in early to mid June. The mean clutch size among five Lincoln County nests was 2.7 eggs during 7 June to 17 July. Tout (1947) found an active nest at North Platte, Lincoln County on 10 July 1938. Rising (1974) reported that the majority of eastern kingbird nests in western Kansas are placed in cottonwood and willow trees. Egg dates from Kansas extend from 11 May to 20 July with about 70% of the eggs laid in June (Johnsgard 1979).