Bird Gallery Index

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher image © Wayne Nicholas

Family:  (Tyrannidae) Tyrant Flycatchers

Preferred Habitat:  Fields and plains

Seasonal Occurrence:  Very common April through October. Greatest numbers in April, May and September. Breeds in our area.

Notes:  Generally spotted when perched on a telephone wire, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is one of our most regal-looking song birds. In flight, it often spreads its tail feathers. Courtship displays are particularly spectacular with the male twirling and dancing in the air. Like their closely-related relatives, the kingbirds, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers can erect their crown feathers in a crest and can be very aggressive, especially in defending their nest. Both males and females have the distinctive long tail, but the male’s tail is longer than the female’s. Immatures have much shorter tails and look more like kingbirds. Rural areas around Houston should provide bountiful sightings during the spring and summer.

The Houston Bird Survey has more information and a distribution map for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
- Susan Billetdeaux