Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Inhabitants of open country in the south-central United States, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are arguably the most distinctive and beautiful flycatcher species that commonly occurs in the United States. Most striking, of course, are their spectacularly elongated tails, whose length is sometimes more than twice that of the rest of the bird's body. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers also possess conspicuous and unusual foraging habits, making airborne sallies from open perches, hovering with spread tails, and maneuvering gracefully to pick off grasshoppers and other insect prey from vegetation.

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers breed in open grassland and savanna from southern Nebraska to the Rio Grande Valley, as far west as southeastern New Mexico and as far east as central Arkansas. Within this range, they may also be found in pastures, parks, golf courses, and agricultural fields. The species winters from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. In spring and fall, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers rarely but recurrently wander throughout the United States and southern Canada, to both coasts.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Range Map

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are closely related to kingbirds, fellow members of the genus Tyrannus, but appear markedly different in coloration as well as tail length. Fork-tailed Flycatchers (T. savana), which occur only rarely and unpredictably in the United States, have similarly long tails, but have dark caps. It is not clear whether Scissor-tailed and Fork-tailed flycatchers are closely related; their outward similarities may reflect convergent evolution under parallel environmental circumstances, not a recent shared ancestor.

Tail length in Scissor-tailed Flycatchers varies widely in both males (about 6–10 inches) and females (4–8 inches). At one Oklahoma site, researchers have observed that within pairs, mates tend to fall into the same ends of the respective tail-length ranges for each sex; males always have longer tails than their mates.

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers eat mostly grasshoppers, proportionally more than any of 17 other flycatcher species examined in one analysis. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers also eat relatively large quantities of beetles. Despite their common name, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers actually consume few flies.

From perches on fences, wires, or tree limbs, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers make aerial forays to forage. More than other members of their genus, they commonly pick insect prey from vegetation, rather than from the air. Upon seizing a large grasshopper, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers return to their perches, where they crush and beat the insect before consuming it. In a few documented cases, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers have been observed feeding in association with Wild Turkeys, which were flushing grasshoppers up from the ground. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers also sometimes feed while hopping on the ground.

Male Scissor-tailed Flycatchers arrive on the breeding grounds in early spring, defining territories before most females arrive. Males establish territories and attract mates with song and with showy displays, including ascents to more than 90 feet, aerial zigzags, and tail-fanning. Nests are located in isolated small trees and large shrubs. Paired males and females select nest sites together; females do most of the work in building the nest.

Clutches usually consist of four or five eggs. Only females incubate and brood hatchlings. Males assist in feeding young.

Description: Scissor-tailed Flycatchers resemble kingbirds in structure, with extremely long tail feathers. Length, not including tail, is about 4.5 inches; tail length varies as discussed above. Adult males have light-gray mantles, and whitish-gray heads and underparts. Wing feathers are very dark brownish-black, with white edging. Tail feathers become progressively longer from inner to outer feathers. The six innermost tail feathers are black, and the six outer tail feathers (three on each side) are mostly white with broad black tips and white edging. Flanks, belly and wing linings (viewed from below) are pink. Adult females and juveniles are paler, with cream-colored or very pale pink flanks, belly, and wing linings.

Voice: Song is a series of staccato syllables, accelerating and increasing in volume. Common call note is a simple “pup.”

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