bird · GBIF taxon 5229687
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus forficatusAlso known as Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Scissorstail, Texas Bird-of-Paradise
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are striking, pearl-gray birds famous for their extraordinarily long, deeply forked tails that open and close like scissors during flight. These acrobatic aerialists patrol open grasslands and roadsides, launching from fence posts to snatch flying insects mid-air with audible snaps of their bills. During the breeding season, males perform spectacular sky-dance courtship displays, plunging and twisting through the air while emitting sharp, chattering squeaks.
MigratoryInsectivorousAcrobatic
Licensed referenceKramer, Gary / Public domain · cc0
- diet
- Insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, bees, and wasps, supplemented occasionally with berries.
- family
- Tyrannidae
- threats
- Habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, pesticide use reducing insect prey, and collisions with man-made structures.
- life Span
- 5 to 10 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Scan Fence Lines: Look for these birds perched on barbed-wire fences, utility lines, or low branches along rural roadsides.
- Watch the Sky: Observe open pastures in late spring to witness the male's dramatic, zigzagging aerial courtship displays.
- Listen for Chatters: Identify their presence by listening for sharp, rhythmic squeaks and chattering calls coming from high perches.