Finally found a Cassin's Kingbird nest in pinyon tree

Having seen several Cassin's Kingbird pairs in the Breeding Bird Atlas-IIblocks I am surveying, I have been frustrated that I hadn't spotted where any were nesting. This species "nest predominately in pinyon/juniper (12 of 17 occurrences)" according to the Colo Breeding Bird Atlas I. So I was pleased to find this nest just a few miles southwest of Canon City.

This pic shows off nicely the highly contrasting white throat that is one of the field marks that differentiates Cassin's from Western Kingbirds (though it takes considerable experience to reliably identify a Cassin's by this field mark, and it's always best to use several field marks such as their distinctive call and tail feathers). I couldn't get a better photo of the nest because the parent bird was distressed with my being 35 feet away and I don't think it's ethical to stress nesting birds just to get a better pic. I was able to see the nestlings from my car (80-90 feet away and with me in my car at this distance the parent birds were not distressed) using my scope.

Though the Colo Breeding Bird Atlas-I noted that Cassin's Kingbirds "tend to nest in dense riparian creek habitat", this pair was in a dry hillside.
SeEtta

All three species of Kingbirds including Cassin's

Cassin's Kingbird is found in a number of locations in SE Colorado including areas in Fremont Co. Both Western and Eastern Kingbirds are found in many locations here so it is possible to see three five species in Kingbird found in North America within a small area.In fact, the kingbird in this pic was located in the Breeding Bird Atlas block I am surveying now. I also have Western and Eastern Kingbirds in this block (note the dark gray head contrasting with the white chin; it also has a pale tail tip rather than the white outer tail feathers on the similar appearing Western Kingbird) . This block also has all three species of phoebe--Say's Phoebe, Eastern and Black Phoebe, all of which have bred here. Eastern bird species meet western bird species here, and some southern/southwestern species also join the mix too.
SeEtta