Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-78
| Common name: |
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher |
| Scientific name: | Tyrannus forficatus |
| Date: | 7NOV'24 |
| Time: | 1530 |
| Length of time observed: | 41 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Unkown |
| Sex: | Male |
| Location: | Moab |
| County: | Grand |
| Latilong: | 38.56922, -109.56086 |
| Elevation: | 4,000' |
| Distance to bird: | 20 - 80 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Swarovski 8.5 x 42 bins |
| Weather: | 50°F Clear. BWS 2 Light breeze. |
| Light Conditions: | Excellent. |
| Description: Size of bird: | Medium sized body with extra-long tail. |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Slender body, forward leaning mostly upright posture. |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Pale gray above, black and white in wings and tail, white below with orangish flanks. |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Short conical, wide gape. |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Pearl gray almost blue above. Gray lores. White throat, breast, belly
and under-tail coverts.. Pale orange flanks. Rich reddish 'shoulders'.
White edges to lesser, median, and greater coverts, also secondaries and
tertials. And a long white and black tail. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Silent. |
| Behavior: | Perching on wheel/sprinkler pipe and fence, very actively sallying out to catch flying insects. Surprisingly acrobatic with such a long tail. |
| Habitat: | An alfalfa field that had been cut 1-2 months ago. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
The only other species remotely resembling this bird is the Fork-tailed
flycatcher, (which is even less likely to be seen here). The long scissor-tail rather puts this bird in a class of it's own. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I saw lots of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in 1985 while bicycling across TX. |
| References consulted: |
Sibley Birds V2 mobile app. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America 7th edition. |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Steve Heinrich |
| Observer's address: | HC64 BOX2913 Castle Valley UT 84532-9613 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: |
First reported to the Moab Bird Club by Michael Hague. Thanks! Marian andNick Eason |
| Date prepared: | 8NOV'24 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |