The scissor-tailed flycatcher is a species of bird known for its distinctive forked tail and aerial acrobatics.
Quick Facts
Here are some quick facts about the scissor-tailed flycatcher:
- Scientific name: Tyrannus forficatus
- Other common names: Texas bird-of-paradise, swallow-tailed flycatcher
- Length: 13-15 inches
- Wingspan: 14 inches
- Weight: 1.5-2.25 ounces
- Distinctive features: Extraordinarily long, scissor-like tail and pinkish underbelly
- Habitat: Open country with scattered trees
- Diet: Insects, spiders
- Range: Central and southern Great Plains of United States south to Central America
Physical Description
The most striking feature of the scissor-tailed flycatcher is its long, forked tail, which can measure up to 10 inches in length. This makes up over half of the bird’s total length. The tail is made up of slender feathers that cross each other, giving the forked appearance that resembles an old-fashioned pair of tailoring scissors.
Adult scissor-tailed flycatchers have gray heads, backs, and wings contrasted with a salmon-pink belly and undertail coverts. The wings have reddish patches at the bend that are visible in flight. Juvenile birds are duller overall with little or no pink on the underparts.
In addition to the extraordinarily long tail, scissor-tailed flycatchers have broad bills with a curved culmen and wide gapes. This allows them to skillfully catch insects mid-air.
Range and Habitat
Scissor-tailed flycatchers breed in the central and southern Great Plains of the United States from Texas to Kansas. Their breeding range extends south to Central America. They winter primarily in southern Mexico and Central America.
During migration and winter, scissor-tailed flycatchers can also be found along the U.S. Gulf Coast, throughout Florida, and even up the Atlantic Coast to New York and Southern Ontario.
This species inhabits open habitats with scattered trees or shrubs and prefers prairies, ranchlands, savannahs, and agricultural areas. Scissor-tailed flycatchers are often seen perching conspicuously on fence posts, utility lines, or lone trees.
Migration
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are migratory, breeding in the United States and wintering in Mexico and Central America. They begin arriving on their breeding grounds in late March and April. By late August and September, they start migrating south again for the winter.
They are long-distance migrants, traveling up to 5,000 miles between their breeding and wintering grounds. They migrate during the day, not at night like many other songbirds.
Diet
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are insectivorous, feeding almost exclusively on insects and other small invertebrates. They capture insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and dragonflies while in flight.
They will sally out from an exposed perch to snatch insects mid-air with their wide bills. They also forage by gleaning insects from the ground.
Hunting and Foraging
Scissor-tailed flycatchers have several characteristic hunting behaviors and techniques:
- Aerial hawking – Flycatching by flying out from a perch to grab an insect.
- Hovering – Rapidly fluttering wings to hover suspended in air while hunting.
- Low flights – Skimming low over the ground to catch flushed insects.
- Ground gleaning – Taking insects off the ground while walking or hopping along.
Their extraordinary aerial agility and maneuverability gives them an advantage when catching insects on the wing. They have full control of their long tail feathers and routinely spread them during aerial pursuits.
Breeding and Nesting
Scissor-tailed flycatchers begin breeding in late April or May after returning from their wintering grounds. The breeding season lasts from May to July.
They are loosely colonial, nesting in loose groups with nests 30 to 100 feet apart. Nests are open, bulky cups built at a fork or outer branch of a tree or shrub, 10 to 20 feet high.
Females lay 3 to 7 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 14-15 days. After hatching, both parents feed the nestlings for about 18 days until fledging.
Courtship Displays
Scissor-tailed flycatchers have elaborate in-flight courtship displays and aerial performances. These displays showcase the male’s aerobatic skill and extremely long tail feathers.
Courtship displays include:
- Sky dancing – spiral dives and ascents
- Moth flight display – fluttering flight to mimic a flying moth
- Slow flight with tail spreading to show off tail length
- Hovering in place with quivering tail
- Calling while passing nest material to female
These aerobatic displays communicate fitness to potential mates and strengthen pair bonds between existing pairs.
Vocalizations
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are quite vocal with a diversity of calls used for communication and courtship. Some of their most common vocalizations include:
- ascending “whee-e-e-r” – Advertisement call
- Harsh “kleer” – Alarm call
- Soft rapid whistling – Given by males during courtship displays and flights
- Variety of chattering – Given around nest
Information Table on Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Breeding
Breeding Season | Nest Placement | Clutch Size | Incubation Period | Nestling Period |
---|---|---|---|---|
Late April to July | 10-20 ft up on tree fork | 3-7 eggs | 14-15 days | About 18 days |
Interactions with Humans
Scissor-tailed flycatchers readily use man-made structures like telephone lines, fence posts, windmills, and dead trees in open fields. This has allowed them to thrive in human-altered habitats.
They are considered indicator species of the health of certain grassland habitats. Population declines may signify threats to prairie ecosystems.
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are popular birds with many birdwatchers across their range. They are prized additions to many backyard birding life lists.
State Bird
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is the state bird of Oklahoma, where it’s common across the state during breeding season.
Cultural Depictions
The scissor-tailed flycatcher appears stylized in Native American art, jewelry, and textiles from Oklahoma and the Southern Plains.
Conservation Status
Scissor-tailed flycatcher populations declined between 1966-2015, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. However, they remain fairly common and widespread.
They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act but have no special conservation status. Maintaining open habitats with scattered trees and shrubs is key for the continued success of this species.
Conclusion
In summary, the scissor-tailed flycatcher is renowned for its extraordinarily long, forked tail and aerial agility used for catching insects on the wing. This graceful and acrobatic bird breeds in the Great Plains and southern U.S. before migrating to Mexico and Central America for winter. Its elaborate courtship displays showcase its flying skills. The scissor-tail is a characteristic bird of open habitats that remains common across much of its range.