Fork-tailed Flycatcher
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| Tyrannus savana Vieillot, 1808 |
The Fork Tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus savana, is a passerine bird of tyrant flycatcher family which includes the kingbirds.
This bird occurs in a wide variety of habitats including pastures, riparian forests, and open residential areas with scattered trees. Its breeding range is found from central Mexico to central Argentina where it is usually found year round except for the southern parts of its range where it retreats northward for the winter. This species is also known to wander widely. It has occurred on a few occasions in the United States and Canada.
This flycatcher will build a shallow cup nest 1-10m in a shrub or short tree. Females normally lay 2-3 eggs.
The Fork-Tailed Flycatcher is dark gray on top, and white below. Males sometimes show a yellow crown stripe atop their black cap. Males also have an extremely long double forked tail, even longer than it's cousin, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Juveniles and females have shorter tails. Males are 37-41cm in size, females measure 28-30cm, including tail. Birds weigh 28-32g.
It is primarily an insectivore, but will switch to berries and small fruits during winter if insects become scarce.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Tyrannus savana. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
