Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Encyclopedia
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus savana, is a passerine
bird of the tyrant flycatcher
family, and is the member of a genus typically referred to as kingbird
s.
to central Argentina
. In most of this range it is usually found year-round, but in the southern parts of its range it retreats
northward for the winter. This species is also known to wander widely. It occurs almost annually in the eastern United States
seaboard and Canada
.
This flycatcher
builds a shallow cup nest 1–10 m high in a shrub or short tree. Females normally lay 2 or 3 eggs.
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is white below, gray above and has a black cap. Males sometimes show a yellow crown stripe. Males also have an extremely long forked tail, of even greater length than that of their cousin, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
. Females have a somewhat shorter tail, while it is significantly shorter in juveniles. Males are 37–41 cm (15-16 in) in length; females, 28–30 cm (11-12 in), including tail. They weigh only 28–32 g (1-1.1 oz), much less than closely related kingbird
s half the total length of this species. The fork-tailed flycatcher has the longest tail relative to body size of any bird on earth. The tail in adult males is 2-3 times longer than the length of the bird from the bill to the base of the tail.
This species is primarily an insectivore
, but will switch to berries and small fruits during winter if insects become scarce.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird of the tyrant flycatcher
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
family, and is the member of a genus typically referred to as kingbird
Kingbird
The genus Tyrannus is a group of large insect-eating birds in the Tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. The majority are named as Kingbirds.They prefer semi-open or open areas. These birds wait on an exposed perch and then catch insects in flight...
s.
Description and ecology
This bird occurs in a wide variety of habitats including pastures, riparian forests, and open residential areas with scattered trees. Its breeding range is from central MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to central Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. In most of this range it is usually found year-round, but in the southern parts of its range it retreats
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
northward for the winter. This species is also known to wander widely. It occurs almost annually in the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
seaboard and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
This flycatcher
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
builds a shallow cup nest 1–10 m high in a shrub or short tree. Females normally lay 2 or 3 eggs.
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is white below, gray above and has a black cap. Males sometimes show a yellow crown stripe. Males also have an extremely long forked tail, of even greater length than that of their cousin, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is a long-tailed insectivorous bird of the genus, whose members are collectively referred to as kingbirds. The kingbirds are a group of large insectivorous birds in the tyrant flycatcher family...
. Females have a somewhat shorter tail, while it is significantly shorter in juveniles. Males are 37–41 cm (15-16 in) in length; females, 28–30 cm (11-12 in), including tail. They weigh only 28–32 g (1-1.1 oz), much less than closely related kingbird
Kingbird
The genus Tyrannus is a group of large insect-eating birds in the Tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. The majority are named as Kingbirds.They prefer semi-open or open areas. These birds wait on an exposed perch and then catch insects in flight...
s half the total length of this species. The fork-tailed flycatcher has the longest tail relative to body size of any bird on earth. The tail in adult males is 2-3 times longer than the length of the bird from the bill to the base of the tail.
This species is primarily an insectivore
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
, but will switch to berries and small fruits during winter if insects become scarce.
External links
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Stamps (for ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Falkland IslandsFalkland IslandsThe Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, GrenadaGrenadaGrenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, "Grenadines of Grenada", Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
, UruguayUruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
) with RangeMap-the AmericasAmericasThe Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily... - Fork-tailed Flycatcher photo gallery VIREO
- Photo; Article chandra.as.utexas.edu
- Photo-Medium Res; Article geog.buffalo.edu
