The breeding status of the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) in California has been open to question for some time. It has long been known to breed in south central Oregon (Gabrielson & Jewett 1940) and northern Nevada (Linsdale 1936). Noting a number of records for the “Eastern border of the state”, Grinnel & Miller (1944) assumed that the species “probably” bred in this part of California. Their assumption was taken as fact by many subsequent authors (Pough 1957, Peterson 1961, etc.) but, as McCaskie & De Benedictis (1966) point out, “. . . there is no evidence of this species having nested in California.”
In the summer of 1971, a pair of Eastern Kingbirds nested successfully at Honey Lake Wildlife Area, near Wendel, Lassen County, California. This paper documents the first recorded nesting for the state, and presents all California records of Eastern Kingbirds known to me. A discussion of the possible significance of these records is also included.