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Breeding Birds of the Platte River Valley

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher -- (Tyrannus forficatus)


Nebraska Status: A rare migrant and summer resident in extreme southern Nebraska (Johnsgard 1980). A recent sighting was reported from the Niobrara River in Brown County on 13 May 1982 (Brogie and Mossman 1983).

Platte River Status: A rare and irregular migrant and summer resident; there are two confirmed nest records from the study area. One bird was photographed at Cedar Point, Keith County during 11-12 June 1979 (Rosche 1979).

Breeding Range: Nesting records are restricted to the eastern half of Adams County on the Eastern Plain physiographic region.

Breeding Population: We did not record scissor-tailed flycatcher during our extensive surveys of breeding bird populations in 1979-1980. Scissor-tailed flycatcher experiences considerable fluctuation in annual numbers at the periphery of its breeding range (Rising 1974).

Habitat: Maximum breeding densities in western Kansas occur in Comanche County where this species occupies riparian habitats as well as shelterbelts near human habitation (Rising 1974).

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Scissor-tailed flycatcher occurs in our area so sporadically and in such small numbers that habitat alterations occurring here produce no impact on the species.

Nesting Data: We have two confirmed nest records for the study area. Brookings (1943) described a scissor-tailed flycatcher pair with six young 7 km south of Hastings, Adams County on 7 August 1943. Two earlier records of this species in the area are mentioned, and Brookings speculated that this flycatcher had nested in the area previously. Turner (1944) mentioned a scissor-tailed flycatcher in T. 12 N. - R. 42 W., Adams County on 29 April and 21 June 1943. Apparently an additional breeding season record included birds in Adams County 2 July 1939. Egg dates in Kansas extend from 21 May to 10 July (Johnsgard 1979).


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