Valley Specialty Highlight

Kingbird sp.

Or so it says on the CBC form.  Because if the Couch’s and Tropicals aren’t singing (the former’s voice being stronger and shrill, the latter more tremulous and twittery), it’s a toughie.  Always an animated topic of conversation among birders is just how much one can tell them apart without voice—by clues like bill size, amount of yellow, robustness of chest.  Even the experts parry and banter.  All in friendly fun, hopefully.

My husband Terry and I have our own term for the collective two:  Couchicals.

Here’s one of each.  But which is which?