Species Name: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)

Length: 10" (25.4 cm) (adult male tail to 15" (38.1cm)).

Description: 15" of which more than half is a very long and deeply-forked black and white tail, adult has bright salmon-pink sides and belly, head, upper-back and breast pale grayish white. Spirited defender of territory against crows, hawks, etc. Gregarious in non-breeding season. Size and shape similar to Western Kingbird; adult much longer-tailed. Flight similar to cuckoos.

Range: Breeds from eastern Colorado and Nebraska south to Texas and Louisiana, winters mostly south of border and southern Florida. Seen in open and semi-open country, roadsides, chaparral, ranches.

Behavior: Often seen perched on utility wires or fences. They are quite approachable most of the time and especially when nesting. Photographing them from a vehicle provides the best opportunity for bird photographers, as with most birds, they are less intimidated by vehicles than humans. They consume a great number of grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, and other ground-dwelling insects making them economically important and popular with farmers and ranchers.

Odd Facts: No other North American Songbird is as long-tailed as these flycatchers. Males begin their famous "sky dance," during spring, a popular site along roadsides during spring and early summer. After climbing about 100 feet in the air, the male makes a series of V-shaped flights, then plunges down in an erratic zigzag course often somersaulting while uttering a rolling, cackling call. The performance has been described as "an aerial ballet of incomparable grace." The common name is derived from its former Latin name-Muscivoria forficata, meaning "flying"-"scissors" and "to devour." The principal threat to scissor-tails is poaching. A great number of birds have been killed by poachers who wanted only the bird's tail.

Related or Similar Species: The flycatcher family includes Fork-tailed, Sulphur-bellied, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated, Brown-crested, Great-crested, Vermillion, as well as the Kingbirds and tropical flycatchers. Range and general description vary according to species.

Identification: Familiarity in its range, and tolerance of people in open country settings makes this an easy bird for almost everyone to identify. The long, forked tail is unmistakable, especially with the male. Their bulky, stick nest contains up to 5 creamy brown-spotted eggs and is lined with soft materials placed in a solitary, isolated tree.

Advice on Finding and Photographing: Finding Scissor-tails in spring and summer is pretty easy - just drive country roads and look for the birds near solitary trees or on their favorite perch, barb wire fences. Listen for their call, a harsh kee-kee-kee-kee!, also chattering notes like that of Western Kingbird.

Getting a good photo of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on anything but a man-made post or bar wire fence is the ultimate challenge. Best bet is to catch them feeding on insects when they often will light on medium density foliage offering the photographer a rare opportunity and clean background. With some luck, you may even get complimentary colored flowers in the image as well!

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