About the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
The scissor-tailed flycatcher, known as swallow-tailed flycatcher or scissorstail, is a long-tailed insectivorous bird of the genus Tyrannus, whose members are collectively referred to as kingbirds. It is found in North and Central America, and is Oklahoma's State Bird.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adult birds have pale gray heads and upper parts, light underparts, salmon-pink flanks and undertail coverts, and dark gray wings. Axillars and patch on underwing coverts are red. Their extremely long, forked tails, which are black on top and white on the underside, are characteristic and unmistakable. At maturity, the male may be up to 15 in (38 cm) in length, while the female's tail is up to 30% shorter. The wingspan is 38.1 cm (15.0 in) and the weight is up to 43 g (1.5 oz). Immature birds are duller in color and have shorter tails.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Dominican Republic, Colombia.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferansAdults have a gray head with slightly darker cheeks; a dark unforked tail with a buffy fringe and gray-olive underparts.
Grey KingbirdTyrannus dominicensisThe adult gray kingbird is an average-sized kingbird.
Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savanaThe fork-tailed flycatcher is white below, gray above, and has a black cap.
Side by side: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher vs Tropical Kingbird · Scissor-tailed Flycatcher vs Western Kingbird · Cassin's Kingbird vs Scissor-tailed Flycatcher · Boat-billed Flycatcher vs Scissor-tailed Flycatcher · Grey Kingbird vs Scissor-tailed Flycatcher · Fork-tailed Flycatcher vs Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
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