Length: 10 to 16 inches
(dependent on tail length)
Wingspan: 15 inches
Seasonality: Non-resident in
South Dakota
ID Keys: Extremely long tail, males with significantly longer tail,
black head and white throat, gray upperparts, white underparts
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
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher inhabits open grasslands, savannas, agricultural fields, pastures, wetlands, and scattered woodland edges. It prefers open country with isolated trees, fence lines, shrubs, or utility wires that provide elevated perches for hunting insects. During migration and periods of wandering, it may also occur in parks, coastal areas, and other open habitats well outside its normal range.
Diet
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher feeds primarily on flying insects, including beetles, flies, wasps, bees, dragonflies, and grasshoppers. It typically hunts by sallying from an exposed perch, catching insects in midair before returning to the same or a nearby perch. The species occasionally supplements its diet with small fruits and berries, especially when insects are less abundant.
Behavior
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is an active and conspicuous bird that frequently perches in exposed locations such as fence posts, shrubs, and utility wires while scanning for insects. It captures prey with agile aerial sallies and often returns to the same perch after a chase. Males are especially noticeable because of their exceptionally long forked tails and may perform aerial displays during courtship and territorial interactions.
Nesting
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher builds a small cup-shaped nest of grasses, rootlets, plant fibers, and other fine materials, usually placed in a tree, shrub, or occasionally on a man-made structure. The female typically lays 2–4 eggs and performs most of the incubation. Both parents help feed and protect the nestlings until they fledge.
Song
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher gives a variety of sharp, high-pitched calls, including chirps, whistles, and buzzy notes. Its vocalizations are often delivered during territorial disputes, courtship displays, and interactions between mates. Although not known for a complex song, the species is frequently vocal and can be quite noticeable in open habitats.
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.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is generally slimmer and has a much darker appearance than the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, with a blackish crown, gray underparts, and an extremely long black forked tail. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers have salmon-pink flanks and underwings, paler gray plumage, and a broader, more colorful appearance. In flight, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher's tail appears narrower and more deeply forked than that of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
Conservation Status
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because of its very large range and substantial population across much of Central and South America. The species remains common in suitable open habitats and has shown a strong ability to adapt to agricultural landscapes and other human-modified environments. No major population declines have been identified that would currently place it at significant conservation risk.
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.
