The scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) is a striking bird known for its uniquely long, forked tail. This aerial insectivore breeds in the southern Great Plains of the United States and migrates to Mexico and Central America for the winter. But just how rare is this eye-catching bird? Let’s take a closer look at the scissor-tailed flycatcher’s population status, range, habitat needs, and conservation outlook to understand its rarity.
Quick Facts on the Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
- Scientific Name: Tyrannus forficatus
- Other Common Names: Scissortail, Texas bird-of-paradise
- Length: 13-15 inches
- Wingspan: 14 inches
- Weight: 1.5-2.5 ounces
- Lifespan: Up to 12 years
- Diet: Insects, spiders
- Key Identifying Traits: Long, forked tail; gray head and back; white belly; red-orange underwings
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is a medium-sized bird, but its tail makes up over half its body length. This acrobatic flyer gets its name from the way its extra-long tail opens and shuts in flight, like a pair of scissors. Scissortails are gray-bodied with white underparts, and flashing red-orange underwing patches are visible when they fly. Their forked tail is unique among North American birds.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Population and Status
The global population of scissor-tailed flycatchers is estimated at 1.5 million breeding pairs. Their numbers seem to be stable currently, so the scissortail is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, Breeding Bird Survey data shows a survey-wide population decline of 1.28% per year from 1966-2015.
While still common in parts of its range, scissor-tailed flycatchers have disappeared from some areas where they were once regular breeders. They face threats like habitat loss and fragmentation on their breeding grounds, as well as deforestation and pollution on their Central and South American wintering grounds. More research is needed to determine exact population trends for this aerial insectivore.
Population Estimate: 1.5 million breeding pairs globally
IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern
Population Trend: Potentially declining but more data needed
So while scissortails remain common in many areas, their populations bear watching. Breeding Bird Surveys and migration counts will help determine whether scissor-tailed flycatchers should be upgraded to Near Threatened status as aerial insectivores experience declines.
Range and Distribution
Scissor-tailed flycatchers breed in the southern Great Plains of the United States, ranging from western Texas to southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas. They are found year-round on the Gulf Coastal Plain from Louisiana to Alabama.
During spring and fall migration, scissortails pass through the southern U.S. from California to Georgia. They winter primarily in Mexico, ranging south to Panama.
While found over a broad area, scissor-tailed flycatchers are local in distribution and absent from many areas within their range. Their need for open habitats with scattered perches limits their numbers across the landscape.
Breeding Range: Southern Great Plains (Texas to Colorado/Kansas)
Year-round Range: Gulf Coastal Plain
Migration: Through southwest U.S. to southeast U.S.
Winter Range: Mexico to Panama
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Habitat
Scissor-tailed flycatchers require open habitats with scattered trees, shrubs, fences, or utility lines for perching. On their Great Plains breeding grounds, they are most often found in shortgrass prairies, agricultural areas, savannahs, open woodlands, and ranchlands.
Scissortails build nests in isolated trees, shrubs, or human structures like telephone poles. They prefer habitats with elevated perches for hunting flying insects on the wing. On migration and in winter, scissor-tailed flycatchers utilize open habitats from desert scrub to coastal savannahs.
The availability of suitable semi-open habitat limits scissor-tailed flycatcher numbers and distribution. They disappeared from parts of their historic breeding range due to habitat loss. Conservation of remaining open habitats is crucial for this species.
Typical Breeding Habitats:
- Shortgrass prairies
- Pastures and agricultural areas
- Savannahs
- Open shrublands and woodlands
- Ranchlands
Key Habitat Features:
- Open areas for aerial hunting
- Scattered trees, shrubs, fences, etc. for perching
- Nest sites in lone trees or poles
Conservation Status and Threats
Scissor-tailed flycatchers still have a large global population, but are declining in parts of their range. The main threats they face include:
- Habitat loss on breeding and wintering grounds
- Nest site and perch shortage
- Increased pesticide use reducing insect prey
- Climate change disrupting migration and breeding
The conversion of grasslands to cropland has likely contributed to scissortail declines in areas like Iowa and Missouri. Deforestation in Central America also reduces overwintering habitat. Scissortails may also be vulnerable to insect population crashes caused by neonicotinoid pesticides.
While scissor-tailed flycatchers remain common overall, increased conservation action can help this unique species. Efforts to preserve breeding habitat, reduce pesticide impacts, retain perches, and improve wintering grounds will aid scissortail populations. Continued monitoring is important to detect any emerging population threats.
Conservation Actions:
- Protect prairie breeding habitats
- Retain hedgerows, lone trees, etc. for perching
- Reduce unnecessary pesticide usage
- Monitor populations and insect prey base
- Preserve wintering habitat in Mexico/Central America
Fun Facts About the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Beyond being unique and eye-catching, scissor-tailed flycatchers exhibit some fascinating behaviors:
- Their extra-long tail snaps shut to help capture flying insects.
- Pairs perform acrobatic mating flights, passing food mid-air.
- They build flimsy nests in isolated trees, often using shed snakeskin.
- Scissortails are speedy fliers, clocked at up to 35 mph in level flight.
- They’re scrappy defenders of nest sites, even mobbing hawks.
- Scissortails migrate at night in loose flocks of up to a thousand birds.
Watching scissor-tailed flycatchers hunt with their unique tails or engage in their spiraling courtship flights is a treat for any birder. Their aerial maneuvers are made even more acrobatic by their distinctive long tail feathers.
Conclusion
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is an elegant and agile aerial insectivore of the southern Great Plains. While still common in parts of its breeding range, scissortail numbers have declined in some areas due to habitat loss. This species relies on open semi-arid habitats with adequate perches for hunting its insect prey.
With an estimated global population of 1.5 million pairs, the scissor-tailed flycatcher is not currently threatened. However, increased conservation measures can help this unique bird by preserving prairie habitat, reducing pesticide use, and monitoring populations. The acrobatic scissor-tailed flycatcher remains a iconic part of the avian landscape across parts of the southern United States and Mexico.