Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) Tyrannidae
Palouse Falls State Park, WA
June 8, 2015
Robert Niese
Western Kingbirds are well deserving of the genus name Tyrannus because they are truly tyrannical terrors. Any bird that happens to wander too close to a kingbird nest (even fearsome ravens and falcons!) will immediately be assaulted by a flurry of feathers. I decided not to test their patience with human intruders. This guy did not seem too pleased to be my subject for a photo shoot in the first place.
Northwest Naturalist 