- Tyrannus forficatus
Identification
Length 26cm (10¼ in) as juvenile, but reaches 38cm (1 ft 3in) as tail grows into adult status; tails of females ~ 30% shorter.
- Pale grey
- White face and breast
- Black wings
- Black and white tail
- Scarlet crown patch
- Salmon pink flush to flanks and belly, which can vary in brightness
Similar Species
Body is similar in size and morph to Western Kingbird, but the white head and especially very long black-and-white tail are distinctive.
Distribution
In summer in USA and north-east Mexico, wintering from south-east Mexico to Panama. In the US, the state of Texas is the best place to see Tyrannus forficatus. Ranges extends over Oklahoma and Nebraska, and slightly into south-eastern New Mexico.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Open areas with scattered brush and post oaks. Observed at heights around 101 m.
Behaviour
Forage close to ground; often seen on fence wires.
Diet
Their diet consists mostly of grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and bugs.
Breeding
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Dana Peak Park, Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Harker Heights, Bell County, Texas, USA, May 2019
They have a zig-zag display flight.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2015)
- Birdwatchers Digest
- Birdforum Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Scissor-tailed_Flycatcher
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
