Eastern Kingbird, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Copyright © 1996, Don Baccus
Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
Small numbers of Eastern Kingbirds are found on Malheur Refuge, mostly in the willow thickets which border the Blitzen River or larger canals. They can be seen perched on an exposed twig or branch, where they have a clear view and can easily fly for insects or aggressively pursue intruders into their territory. The northern and southern portions of the Center Patrol Road follow waterways for much of their length, so driving one section or the other and scanning the willows alongside the road is the easiest way to find them. I've also seen them in willows along the roads through the flooded fields outside Burns, but much less often.
This is a very attractive passerine, and its habit of perching in an exposed position right next to the Center Patrol Road makes it fairly easy to photograph from the car, once you've located one. Look for one which is perched low, rather than high.
The portions of the Center Patrol Road which are bordered by willow thickets are the only reliable place to find these species. As far as I know, there's no single spot along the road which is best.