Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus), Lake Havasu City, Rotary Park, Mohave County

This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was discovered and photographed by Chris McCreedy on 20 May 2012

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers breed in the Great Plains and are regularly found in eastern New Mexico. It is a causal migrant and summer visitor to Arizona. It has nested twice, once a pair was found nest building near Dudleyville and once in Camp Verde where one mated with Western Kingbird and produced hybrid young.

Unmistakable in this full adult plumage.  This is a male Scissor-tailed, with a long, fork-shaped tail that is longer in length than the rest of the bird's body. The upper tail and scissor tips are black, but the inner rectrices are white-tipped and the tail is white below. Light-gray head, almost silver in tone, pale throat and belly, rose wash in flanks. Gray back and gray in upper coverts, along with black in upper coverts as well. Dark gray/black primaries and greater coverts with pale edging. Dark gray in lores area.

20 May 2012, photo by Chris McCreedy

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