kingbird

[king-burd]

noun

any of several American tyrant flycatchers of the genus Tyrannus, especially T. tyrannus (eastern kingbird), of North America, known for their pugnacious disposition toward predators.

Origin of kingbird

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; king + bird

Also called bee martin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for kingbird

Historical Examples of kingbird

With none of these intruders had the kingbird any quarrel when away from his nest.
Little Brothers of the Air
Olive Thorne Miller
This was satisfactory, for I did not know the kingbird in domestic life.
Little Brothers of the Air
Olive Thorne Miller
It looked exceedingly like "showing off," and who could imagine a kingbird in that rôle!
Little Brothers of the Air
Olive Thorne Miller
In this respect their habits are much like those of their cousin, the kingbird.
Our Bird Comrades
Leander S. (Leander Sylvester) Keyser
Of the flycatchers, I have noted the kingbird, the least flycatcher, and the phœbe.
Birds in the Bush
Bradford Torrey

British Dictionary definitions for kingbird

kingbird

noun

any of several large American flycatchers of the genus Tyrannus, esp T. tyrannus (eastern kingbird or bee martin)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012