Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher competes with North America's Scissor-tailed Flycatcher for the bird with the longest tail on the continent. However, while the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher has a native range over parts of the United States, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is just a vagrant to the United States. They are normally found from southern Mexico, through Central America, and into much of South America. While many sightings of the species have occurred near the Atlantic coast of the United States, they have been found from coast-to-coast in scattered locations, and have even been found as far north as southern Canada. Given that Mexican and Central American populations are largely permanent residents, it is thought that birds found in the United States and Canada are from migratory populations in South America.

Habitat

Found in open habitats, including shrublands, savannahs with scattered shrubs and trees, and agricultural land.

Diet

Feeds on insects. They will also occasionally feed on small fruits and berries.

Behavior

Most often forages by observing from a perch, and flying out to capture insects that it spots. Will also perch while feeding on fruits and berries.

Nesting

The nest of a Fork-tailed Flycatcher is an open cup built of twigs, grasses and weed stems. The female usually lays between 2 and 4 eggs, and she alone incubates the eggs.

Song

In North America, they aren't often heard. The most common call is a series of high, sharp twittering and chip notes.

Migration

Considered a permanent resident in part of their normal range, but other populations are migratory. Given the number of sightings in the United States, the species is obviously prone to wander on occasion away from its normal range.

Interactive eBird Map

Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Fork-tailed Flycatcher sightings

Similar Species

Given the length of the tail, when the species is seen in the United States, it is most likely to be confused with the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The two species do have rather different plumages, however.

Conservation Status

Populations are large, spread over a wide geographic area, and they are relatively common in parts of their range. The IUCN lists the Fork-tailed Flycatcher as a species of "Least Concern".

Photo Information

Photo taken by Claudio Timm - November 2nd, 2010 - Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.