Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Overview

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Medium-sized flycatcher with pale gray upperparts, black head, inconspicuous yellow crown stripe, and white underparts. Wings and spectacularly long, deeply forked tail are black. Wing linings are white. Swift flight with shallow wing beats. Feeds on insects.

Range and Habitat

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Occurs from southern Mexico to Argentina, but strays to the eastern U.S. seaboard. Prefers savannas and pastures with trees or low bushes.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is a rare example of a neotropical resident species that strays regularly to the northeastern United States and Canada.
Males have an extremely long forked tail, even longer than that of their cousin, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Juveniles and females have shorter tails.
This bird was first described by French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot.
A group of flycatchers has many collective nouns, including an "outfield", "swatting", "zapper", and "zipper" of flycatchers.

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is currently rated as Least Concern. This is a terrestrial bird that has a range of more than 6 million square kilometers. The population of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher has not yet been quantified, but it has been noted as being common in its native range, which indicates there is no immediate concern. This bird is native to South America, Central America and Mexico. It is also known to visit numerous other locales as well. The current rating is downgraded from a prior Lower Risk rating that was issued in 2000.