Favors grassland or farmland with scattered trees or isolated groves. May breed in open grassland with no trees in some areas, where utility poles provide artificial nest sites.
Why is it called the scissor-tailed flycatcher?
It is named “scissor-tailed” because its tail looks like a pair of scissors. The tail is shorter when it is young, and the bird is not as colorful. The scissor-tailed flycatcher is closely related to the kingbirds. It is also the state bird of Oklahoma.
Is a scissor-tailed flycatcher a swallow?
The scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus), also known as the Texas bird-of-paradise and swallow-tailed flycatcher, is a long-tailed bird of the genus Tyrannus, whose members are collectively referred to as kingbirds.
Is the scissor-tailed flycatcher endangered?
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are numerous and widespread in the wild. They are not on the list of endangered species. Interesting Scissor-tailed flycatcher Facts: Scissor-tailed flycatcher can reach 8.7 to 14.6 inches in length and 1.3 to 2 ounces of weight.
What does a scissor tail bird symbolize?
This animal is so much a symbol of spring that many ranchers and farmers state that when they see this bird, there will be no more freezing temperatures until fall. It is a moderately sized bird, with a total length (body and tail) of just over fifteen inches.
Where can scissor-tailed flycatchers be found?
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers breed in open habitats in the southern Great Plains and south Texas, especially around scattered trees or utility lines. They tolerate human presence well and frequently breed in towns.
What is OK state bird?
Under House Joint Resolution Number 21, signed into law on May 26, 1951, the scissor-tailed flycatcher (earlier called Muscivora forficata, now called Tyrannus forficatus) became Oklahoma’s state bird.
Are Flycatchers aggressive?
They are noisy and aggressive, sometimes chasing birds much larger. … These birds capture their food on the wing and their diet includes many insects harmful to agriculture. The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher may be seen in the open country along roadsides perched on fence posts and utility wires.
What sound does a scissor-tailed flycatcher?
Songs. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers sing a series of sharp notes that sound rather like a puppy playing with a squeaky toy, rising in pitch and speeding up toward the end of the song. They sing from conspicuous perches like trees and wires.
What kind of bird is a scissor tail?
Basic Description. An elegant gray and salmon-pink flycatcher festooned with an absurdly long tail, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is the bird to look for on fence wires in the south-central United States. They typically perch in the open, where their long, forked tails make an unmistakable silhouette.
What is a scissortail?
/ ˈsɪz ərˌteɪld/. a flycatcher, Muscivora forficatus, of the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America, having a long, deeply forked tail. any of various other birds having a long, forked tail.
What bird is black-and-white with a long tail?
Basic Description. Black-billed Magpies are familiar and entertaining birds of western North America. They sit on fenceposts and road signs or flap across rangelands, their white wing patches flashing and their very long tails trailing behind them.
What is the state bird of Michigan?
In 1931, the AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius) was chosen the state bird. It had been favored by the Michigan Audubon Society. Sponsors called the robin “the best- known and best-loved of all the birds in the state of Michigan.” In 1990, KALKASKA SAND was chosen as the state soil.
What is the state bird of New York?
State Bird: Eastern Bluebird
The bluebird was adopted as the State bird in 1970. The Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, is a medium-sized thrush.
What kind of bird is gray and white?
The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is an slim gray bird with flashy white wing patches and white edges on its long tail. It is one of the most vocal and distinctive common, backyard birds in America.
What do starlings symbolize?
Starlings are symbolic of communication, of your relationship with your fellow members, and your standing in society. They also symbolize unity; often seen flocking together, these birds have learned that we are always stronger together than alone.
What does a falcon represent?
Falcons are known for their formidable speed and strength, sharp eyesight, lethal nature, and deadly hunting skills. To us, falcons symbolize ambition and aspiration, superiority and dominance, freedom and victory. It represents the fight against our fears as well as a metaphor for clear vision.
Why is the scissor tailed flycatcher important to Oklahoma?
The flycatcher’s appetite for grasshoppers, crickets, spiders and other ground-dwelling insects made them economically important to farmers. … 21 was approved and on May 26, 1951, the scissor-tailed flycatcher became the state bird of Oklahoma.
What does a Mockingbird look like?
Mockingbirds are overall gray-brown, paler on the breast and belly, with two white wingbars on each wing. A white patch in each wing is often visible on perched birds, and in flight these become large white flashes. The white outer tail feathers are also flashy in flight.
What do Scissortails sound like?
Scissortails utter a kingbird-like twittering while flying, clucking and chattering erratically. Their call sounds like “cah-kee… cah-key…CAH-KEY.”