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Platte River Status: An abundant migrant and common nesting species. Extreme migration dates at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, range from 2 May to 13 September. Tout (1947) found western kingbird a regular summer resident in Lincoln County, present 1 May to 15 September. Rosche (1979) recorded western kingbird in the lower North Platte River Valley during 6 May to 2 September.

Breeding Range: Nearly ubiquitous in its distribution within our study area, western kingbird is a common nesting species on the Western Plain, Sandhills, Dissected Plain, and within the Platte River Valley physiographic region east to Gosper County. Fairly common in the eastern reaches of the Platte River Valley, and on the Eastern Plain.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 98,500 nesting pairs. Western kingbird ranked 10th in total abundance among nesting species, making up 3.3% of the total bird numbers, and was the most numerous Tyrannid present.

Habitat: Western kingbird nests in a variety of habitats adjacent to open areas. We found the highest mean densities in shelterbelts (135.3 pairs/km²), followed by residential (31.8 pairs/km²), river channel island (3.2 pairs/km²), lowland forest (3.0 pairs/km²), upland prairie (2.5 pairs/km²), wet prairie (0.7 pairs/km²), domestic hayland (0.5 pairs/km²), and alfalfa (0.5 pairs/km²). Faanes (1982) reported that highest nesting densities of western kingbird on a central North Dakota study area occurred in shelterbelts. Faanes observed that upland native prairie and cropland edges were used regularly for foraging. Rising (1974) found that western kingbird was the most common tyrannid in western Kansas, where it nests in isolated trees or at the edge of woodlands.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Western kingbird has benefited significantly from the conversion of native grassland and wet meadow habitats to artificial habitats such as shelterbelts and ornamental plantings in residential areas. Mean breeding densities in wooded habitats associated with the Platte River system suggest that this species has not exploited woodland vegetation within the river channel in significant numbers.

Nesting Data: We have 12 confirmed nest records from the study area; all in early June. Kansas egg dates range from 11 May to 31 July (Johnsgard 1979). Rising (1974) reported that the peak of egg laying among western kingbirds in western Kansas occurred in mid June.