A spectacular pale gray-and-pink flycatcher with extraordinarily long forked tail in males. The state bird of Oklahoma.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The scissor-tailed flycatcher, known as swallow-tailed flycatcher or scissorstail, is a long-tailed insectivorous bird of the genus Tyrannus, whose members are collectively referred to as kingbirds. It is found in North and Central America, and is Oklahoma's State Bird.
Source: Wikipedia — Scissor-tailed flycatcher Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Pale gray head and back, salmon-pink sides and wing linings, and an extraordinarily long, deeply forked black-and-white tail (longer in males).
Similar species. Western Kingbird is similar in build but has a short, square tail and yellow belly; nothing else has the long scissor tail.
Voice. Sharp, bickering 'kew' and 'pik' notes and stuttering chatter.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Flying insects caught on the wing.
Behavior. A spectacular flycatcher of southern Great Plains grasslands; sallies for insects and performs a tumbling 'sky-dance' display, the immense tail streaming behind. Gathers in big premigration roosts.
§ Range
South-central US in summer
§ Habitat
Open habitats, agricultural fields, roadsides
§ Threats
Habitat loss, pesticide drift, vehicle strikes.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the scissor-tailed flycatcher is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain native grasslands. Skip pesticides. Drive slowly on rural roads.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Scissor-tailed flycatcher
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Tyrannus forficatus
- IUCN Red List — search for Tyrannus forficatus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Tyrannus forficatus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
