The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is a majestic bird, and it's no wonder it's Oklahoma's official state bird. This bird is known for its striking appearance, with a brown back and wings, and a white belly.
One of its most distinctive features is its long, black tail with white outer feathers, resembling a pair of scissors. This unique tail is a key identifier of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
In terms of size, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is relatively small, measuring around 7-8 inches in length. It's also a lightweight bird, weighing in at around 1.5 ounces.
These birds are known for their impressive aerial displays, where they fly high above the ground, performing acrobatic maneuvers in search of insects and other small prey.
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Description and Characteristics
The Oklahoma state bird, the scissor-tailed flycatcher, is a bird of striking appearance.
Its tail is its most notable feature, reaching up to nine inches in length and resembling a pair of scissors. The nape of the scissortail's neck and its back are pearl gray, and the breast is white.
The scissor-tailed flycatcher has a wingspan of 15 cm (5.9 in) and weighs up to 43 g (1.5 oz). The male may be up to 15 in (38 cm) in length, while the female's tail is up to 30% shorter.
The bird's plumage is beautiful, with pale gray heads and upper parts, light underparts, and dark gray wings. The axillars and patch on underwing coverts are red.
The scissor-tailed flycatcher's tail is black on top and white on the underside, and is extremely long and forked. Immature birds are duller in color and have shorter tails.
The scissortail's body is soft gray with a white underbelly, and the only bright colorings are splashes of red or pink under the wings where they join the body.
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Habitat and Distribution
The scissor-tailed flycatcher's breeding habitat is found in open shrubby country with scattered trees in the south-central states.
This type of habitat is ideal for the birds, providing them with the perfect environment to raise their young. They can be found in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, western portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri, as well as far eastern New Mexico and northeastern Mexico.
The scissor-tailed flycatcher has a wide range, with reported sightings in southern Canada and Upstate New York, but these are rare and usually involve stray visitors.
Their migratory route takes them through Texas and eastern Mexico to their winter non-breeding range, which spans from southern Mexico to Panama.
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Behavior and Diet
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher's behavior is quite fascinating. They are known to be highly social birds, often gathering in large flocks during migration.
In Oklahoma, where they are the state bird, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers can be seen performing impressive aerial displays, including dives and swoops.
Their diet consists mainly of insects, with a focus on flying insects like dragonflies and cicadas.
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Special Behaviors
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are known for their impressive aerial displays. They perform a famous "sky dance" during spring and early summer.
The male bird takes to the skies, flying about 100 feet high into the air. This is just the beginning of their acrobatic performance.
They make special V-shaped flights, showcasing their agility and control. This display is often seen along roadsides, making it a popular sight for nature enthusiasts.
In addition to their V-shaped flights, the male bird dives down in a wiggly, zigzag path. This adds an extra layer of excitement to their aerial ballet.
Sometimes, they even do somersaults while making a rolling, cackling sound. This unique combination of movement and sound is a true marvel of nature.
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What It Eats
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are primarily insectivores, feasting on a wide variety of bugs.
They catch many different kinds of insects, including grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers are a significant food source for scissor-tailed flycatchers, making them a welcome sight for farmers and ranchers.
Crickets are another common snack for these birds, providing them with essential nutrients.
Spiders are also on the menu, helping to keep pest populations under control.
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Breeding and Nesting Young Birds
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are fiercely protective of their nests, which is why you'll often see them aggressively defending their territory.
They build their nests in isolated trees or shrubs, sometimes even using artificial sites like telephone poles near towns.
A single tree is usually where you'll find a scissor-tailed flycatcher's nest, often between 7 to 30 feet above the ground.
Both parents take turns feeding the young, which can be a lot of work considering a pair of birds might raise two groups of young during the summer.
Each group, called a brood, typically has 4 to 6 baby birds, which is quite a handful.
Clutches usually contain three to six eggs, and the male's spectacular aerial display during courtship is a sight to behold, with his long tail forks streaming out behind him.
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Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher Media
The Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher is a bird that's not afraid to show off its unique features.
They often perch conspicuously on utility lines, treetops, and fence lines.
In flight, their salmon-colored shoulders and underwings are visible.
Their extremely long, forked tail is a distinctive feature that's hard to miss.
Juveniles have a pale gray head and back, which sets them apart from adults.
Their juvenile birds have a shorter tail than adults, a noticeable difference.
Taxonomy and Classification
The scissor-tailed flycatcher has a rich history of classification. It was formally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789.
Gmelin placed the scissor-tailed flycatcher in the genus Muscicapa, specifically naming it Muscicapa forficata. The specific epithet "forficata" comes from the Latin word forfex, meaning "a pair of scissors".
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is now one of 13 species in the kingbird genus Tyrannus. The genus was introduced by Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799.
Within the genus Tyrannus, the scissor-tailed flycatcher is most closely related to the western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis).
Here's a brief overview of the scissor-tailed flycatcher's taxonomy:
Oklahoma State Bird: Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is Oklahoma's official state bird. It's a bird of beauty and strength, with its striking black and white tail resembling a pair of scissors.
The scissor-tailed flycatcher's Latin name, Muscivora forficata, describes its ability to devour flies. This name is fitting, given the bird's diet of harmful insects.
This bird's tail is its most notable physical trait, measuring up to eight to ten inches long and forked six inches deep. The scissor-tailed flycatcher's body is soft gray with a white underbelly, and it has splashes of red or pink under the wings.
The scissor-tailed flycatcher's nesting range is confined to a relatively narrow belt running from southern Texas to southern Nebraska.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Oklahoma's state bird a scissor-tailed flycatcher?
The scissor-tailed flycatcher was chosen as Oklahoma's state bird due to its unique characteristics, including its diet of harmful insects and Oklahoma-centered nesting range. Its selection was also influenced by the fact that no other state had designated it as their official bird.
What is unusual about the state bird of Oklahoma?
The scissor-tailed flycatcher, Oklahoma's state bird, has a distinctive long tail that can reach up to nine inches in length, which it opens and closes like scissors when flying and perching. This unique feature makes it easily recognizable in flight.
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