The scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) is a long-tailed bird found in the southern Great Plains of the United States. With their deeply forked tails and aerial acrobatics, these strikingly elegant birds are a treat to observe. But are scissor tails endangered? Let’s take a closer look at the conservation status of this captivating creature.
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher Overview
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is a medium-sized bird, measuring approximately 15 inches in length. Adults have pale gray upperparts, light underparts, salmon-pink flanks, and their exceptionally long, forked tails, which are black on top and white on the underside.
This agile flycatcher gets its name from its long tail feathers, which can spread up to 14 inches apart in mature breeding males. The tail resembles an open pair of scissors when spread wide. Females have shorter tail feathers, about 9 to 10 inches in length.
Scissor-tails spend summers breeding in the southern Great Plains, from Kansas and Oklahoma south to Texas and into Mexico. They migrate to Mexico and Central America for the winter. Their preferred breeding habitat is open country with scattered trees or telephone poles for perching.
These aerial insectivores feed almost exclusively on insects caught during acrobatic flights from an open perch. Grasshoppers make up the majority of their diet. Scissor-tails may also eat beetles, dragonflies, moths, ants, bees, wasps, and spiders.
The scissor-tail breeding season lasts from March to July. Females build a cup nest in a tree from twigs, bark, leaves, feathers, stems, and other materials. Females lay 3 to 6 eggs and incubate them for 14 days. Both parents feed the nestlings. Young fledge in about 17 days.
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher Population Trends
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are currently classified as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their global population is estimated to number around 1.5 million individuals and is expected to be stable for the foreseeable future.
In the United States, the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides long-term data on scissor-tail populations. Survey results from 1966-2019 indicate the species has undergone a population increase in the U.S. and Canada, estimated at about 1.5% annually over 53 years.
Within the U.S., scissor-tails are most abundant in Texas, with a statewide breeding population estimated between 100,000 to 1 million pairs. Oklahoma likely hosts the second largest scissor-tail population, estimated at 10,000 to 100,000 pairs.
While scissor-tails are doing well as a whole, BBS data does suggest some regions have seen declines, including localized pockets of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Overall however, the population remains robust throughout the bulk of its U.S. range.
Threats and Conservation
Scissor-tailed flycatchers face a variety of threats across their range, though none are severe enough yet to destabilize the total population:
- Habitat loss due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and removal of fence rows and isolated trees that serve as perches for hunting
- Increased pesticide use reducing insect prey abundance
- Climate change altering suitable seasonal ranges
- Collisions with vehicles and infrastructure
However, the adaptability and resilience of scissor-tails make them less vulnerable compared to species with stricter habitat requirements. Their ability to nest on man-made structures in rural areas helps them persist even with some natural habitat degradation.
There are currently no major conservation actions targeted for scissor-tailed flycatchers. However, efforts to conserve other prairie-inhabiting birds through sustainable land management practices and habitat preservation can benefit scissor-tailed populations incidentally.
Various state and national parks, wildlife refuges, and private ranches implementing sustainable grazing regimes and protecting intact native prairie also conserve crucial scissor-tail breeding grounds. Maintaining powerline corridors with scattered perching trees similarly provides habitat for these resourceful birds.
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher Status in Texas
Texas hosts the largest scissor-tail population, where they are a beloved state symbol. As an iconic fixture of the rural landscape, they have become embedded in the region’s culture.
Across most of the Lone Star State, scissor-tailed flycatchers occur in good numbers. BBS data shows most Texas survey routes detected increasing or stable scissor-tail trends since the 1960s.
However, some localized declines were observed in west central and southwestern parts of the state. These declines may reflect habitat changes or shifts in seasonal movements. Scissor-tails are difficult to monitor due to nomadic tendencies.
Overall, scissor-tails remain a thriving summer resident and breeder. Over 100,000 Texas residents report scissor-tails at their feeders each year, attesting to a robust statewide population.
Texas Breeding Bird Survey Data
The following table summarizes 50-year scissor-tail population trends from select Breeding Bird Survey routes in Texas, providing a regional snapshot:
Region | 1966-2019 Trend | Percentage Change |
---|---|---|
Northwest Texas | Significant increase | +4.2% per year |
South Texas Plains | Possible increase | +1.8% per year |
Edwards Plateau | Stable numbers | No change |
Lower Rio Grande | Possible decline | -1.9% per year |
These regional trends reflect largely stable or growing scissor-tail populations across prime Texas breeding areas. The species remains secure and locally abundant in suitable habitat statewide.
Status in Oklahoma
Oklahoma represents the northeastern limits of the scissor-tail’s breeding range. Though less abundant here than in Texas, Oklahoma likely hosts over 10,000 breeding pairs scattered statewide.
Most BBS routes indicate stable long-term scissor-tail trends in Oklahoma. However, localized declines in the south-central region resulted in an overall declining trend of -1.3% annually statewide from 1966 to 2019.
More years of survey data will clarify whether these declines reflect regional habitat changes or natural population fluctuations. Elsewhere in Oklahoma, scissor-tail numbers seem to be holding steady or slightly increasing.
Status in Kansas
In Kansas, scissor-tails breed mainly in the southern half of the state. Breeding Bird Survey data show Kansas’s scissor-tail population underwent an overall decline of -2.5% annually from 1966 to 2019.
These declines were most pronounced in south-central Kansas. The reasons are unclear but may involve conversions of native grassland habitat. Scissor-tails fare best in the western part of the state where intact prairie habitat remains.
Though diminished in parts of Kansas, scissor-tail populations remain secure overall. Suitable breeding habitat persists, especially in western regions. Targeted conservation programs that restore and preserve native grasslands may help bolster Kansas’s scissor-tails.
Conclusion
In summary, scissor-tailed flycatchers are abundant across their core range and are not currently at risk of extinction. Total global and U.S. populations are estimated to be large and stable. The species rates as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Regional declines in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas warrant continued monitoring efforts and habitat management. However, scissor-tails remain common summer breeders throughout the southern Great Plains, thanks to their adaptability.
By nesting on man-made structures and taking advantage of open habitats like powerline corridors, scissor-tails persist in rural and agricultural areas. This resourcefulness allows scissor-tails to thrive despite some habitat degradation.
While not endangered, targeted conservation measures that restore native grasslands and preserve intact prairies will provide important breeding grounds for scissor-tails. Sustainable land management practices that protect scattered trees, avoid excessive mowing during nesting season, and reduce pesticide use in rural areas will also benefit these aerial insectivores.
With their buoyant and captivating flight, scissor-tails bring elegance and life to the landscapes they inhabit. Ensuring these unique birds remain a part of the southern plains environment for generations to come is an important conservation goal.