Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


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Oklahoma's Tropical Ambassador

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Cutting a Path for Themselves

Scissor-tailed flycatchers are easily identified by their long, scissor-like tail, which may reach nine inches in length. During flight, the bird opens and shuts its tail like a pair of scissors and folds or closes the "scissors" when perching. Since the bird is only 11-15 inches long, its tail is proportionately longer than any other Oklahoma bird.

The nape of the scissortail's neck and its back are pearl gray, and the breast is white. Wings are sooty black with a touch of scarlet at the shoulders while the sides and wing linings are pink. Females usually are shorter than males because her tail is not as long. Immature birds resemble adults, but their tail is shorter and only slightly forked. Scissortails utter a kingbird-like twittering while flying, clucking and chattering erratically. Their call sounds like "cah-key...cah-key...CAH-KEY."

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