The scissor-tailed flycatcher is Oklahoma’s state bird, found in rural areas and near cities. Males and females have similar tails and eat insects. They differ in color and tail length, and work together in nesting. Their decline is unfortunate as they eat crop-damaging insects.
The scissor-tailed flycatcher, also known as the swallow-tailed flycatcher, is the state bird of Oklahoma. It lives near cities and is often found in rural areas perched near the side of the road. Although males and females are identifiable by their coloration, both sexes have similar-looking tails from which they get their names. They eat insects, but have a rather sneaky and aggressive way of doing it. Males and females do their individual parts in the nesting process, but they also have a point where they work together.
On May 5, 1951, the scissor-tailed flycatcher became the state bird of Oklahoma. The birds live primarily in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, western parts of Missouri and Louisiana, and eastern New Mexico. During the winter, they migrate south and are found from Mexico to Central America and as far south as Florida. They usually live in rural areas and near cities with scattered areas.
Males and females are identifiable from each other. The male scissor-tailed flycatcher has a light gray body, but the head and underside are so pale that they are almost white. The wings are a very dark brown shade, and underneath it is bright red in what would be the underarm area. The lower half of the bird’s underside is light pink. The female closely resembles the male, except for a lighter color.
They also differ in tail length. As the name suggests, the scissor-tailed flycatcher has a tail that is shaped like an open pair of scissors. The male has a black and white tail that is 6 to 10 inches (15 cm to 25 cm) long. The female has the same colored tail, but measures only 4 to 8 inches (10 cm to 20 cm).
Oklahoma’s state bird eats primarily crickets, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. Birds observe their prey from a flying or high position, then swoop down to snatch the insect from the ground or plants. They bring it back to a perch, then crush it before eating it.
Male scissor-tailed flycatchers choose a breeding ground, where they wait for the females to arrive. When they mate, they go together to choose a nest site. The female is the builder of the nest; she builds it out of shrubs and trees and she builds it out of twigs and greenery along with string, paper, and other small pieces of soft trash. The pair will have about five cream colored eggs.
One of the reasons the scissor-tailed flycatcher is prized as Oklahoma’s state bird is because it eats insects that nuisance and damage crops. Therefore, it is unfortunate that the bird population in Oklahoma is declining. They are also favored for their unique long, split tail, which is not only beautiful but sets them apart from other birds. Their coloration also sets them apart, especially when flying overhead as the red and light pink are visible from below.
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