Claudia Rich, age 10, of Keene, N.H., for her question:

HOW DID THE KINGBIRD GET ITS NAME?

Kingbird is a member of the flycatcher family. It is helpful to farmers because it eats lots of insects. It makes its home in all parts of the United States except the Southwest and can also be found allthrough southern Canada.

The kingbird gets its name from the way it attacks and drives off other birds, especially crows and hawks. It attacks them furiously in the air and makes them change course.

The eastern kingbird is black above with white tipped feathers and white underparts. It has a patch of bright orange red feathers on top of its black head.

The kingbird attacks other birds mainly during the breeding season and does this to protect its nest, mate and young.

The kingbird is sometimes called a bee martin. This name comes from its fondness for bees.