Bird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus forficatusAlso known as Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Scissorstail, Texas Bird-of-Paradise
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are striking open-country birds celebrated for their remarkably long, deeply forked tail feathers that open and close like shears during aerial maneuvers. They perch prominently on fence lines, utility wires, and isolated trees before launching into acrobatic swoops to snag grasshoppers and beetles mid-air. During breeding season, males perform spectacular sky-dancing courtship displays, tumbling backward while uttering sharp, buzzy calls.
InsectivoreMigratoryLong-Tailed
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrasshoppers, Beetles, Crickets
Predators
- Hawks
- Owls
- Snakes
ThreatsHabitat loss, pesticide reduction of prey, severe weather
HabitatsSavannas, open pastures, shrublands, agricultural fields
Life span5–10 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyTyrannidae
- GenusTyrannus
- SpeciesTyrannus forficatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Fence Line Spotting: Scan roadside fences and utility lines in open pastures during summer.
- Courtship Watching: Look for aerial acrobatic displays above breeding territories in spring.
- Nesting Distance: Keep a respectful distance from nest trees to avoid disturbing brooding parents.
Genus Member (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Genus Member Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Genus Member (c) Edoro, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Edoro · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Guilherme Cameis Freda, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Guilherme Cameis Freda · cc-by-sa
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