Credit: Dario Sanches
North American field guide
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus savana
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Identification
Field notes
37 cm (14-15") Accidental. Tropical bird that may stray along Atlantic coast or inland to Texas.
Told from Scissor-tailed Flycatcher by its black cap and head, white underparts and white wing linings. Very long forked tail that flutters when it flies.
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Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Credit: Pantanal BirdClubFork-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus savana
Credit: Celso ParisBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
1 ruleRule 1 17 criteria · confidence 1
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
- What colour was the TAIL ?
- Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Uniform color · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer · Fall
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States