Oklahoma's Tropical Ambassador
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
![GIF - Cover Picture of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher](figure/cover.gif)
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
1801 N. Lincoln
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405)521-3853
Introduction
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is known by other names as well-scissortail, Texas bird-of-paradise and swallowtailed flycatcher. It is obvious how the bird acquired its common names, but its former Latin name-Muscivora forficata-describes the bird in even grander terms. Muscivora derives from the Latin word for "fly" (musca) and "to devour" (vorare), while forficata comes from forfex, or scissors. The scissortail now is a member of the genus Tyrannus, or "tyrant-like flycatchers." This genus earned its name because several species are extremely aggressive on their breeding territories, where they will attack larger birds such as crows, hawks and owls.
This resource is based on the following source:
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. No Date. Oklahoma's tropical ambassador -- The scissor-tailed flycatcher. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma City, OK.This resource should be cited as:
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. No Date. Oklahoma's tropical ambassador -- The scissor-tailed flycatcher. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma City, OK. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/okscisso/index.htm (Version 16JUL97).
Contents
- Cutting a Path for Themselves
- From the Tropics to Tulsa
- The World of Scissortails
- Threats to Existence
- Assisting Neotropical Migrants
- Search for the Scissortail
Installation: Extract all files and open index.htm in a web browser.okscisso.zip ( 63K) -- Oklahoma's Tropical Ambassador -- The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher