Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Photographed In central Indiana. Sorry for the road noise.

The Scissor‑tailed Flycatcher is one of North America’s most striking birds—sleek, pale, and impossibly long‑tailed, built for acrobatic flight and open‑country elegance.
In its core range across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and surrounding states, it is a familiar summer presence perched on wires, flashing salmon‑pink underwings, and performing dramatic aerial sallies for insects. But in Indiana, this bird is a rarity—an exciting, memorable find for any birder.

Appearance and Behavior

The Scissor‑tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) is instantly recognizable. Adults have a white head, soft gray back, peach‑to‑salmon flanks, and a tail that can reach 12–15 inches, often longer than the bird’s body. In flight, the tail opens and closes like a pair of blades, giving the species its name.

They are agile aerial hunters, catching insects in mid‑air with sudden twists and long glides. Their perching posture—upright, elegant, and often on exposed wires—makes them easy to spot in their home range but all the more dramatic when seen far from it.

Juveniles

Juvenile Scissor‑tailed Flycatchers resemble adults but have much shorter tails, often only slightly elongated beyond the wings. Their colors are more muted, with buffy flanks and softer facial contrast. These young birds sometimes wander farther than adults, contributing to rare sightings well outside the core breeding range.