Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Audubon Illustration

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

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About the Fork-tailed Flycatcher

The fork-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) is a passerine bird of the tyrant flycatcher family and is a member of a genus typically referred to as kingbirds. Named for the long, forked tail, particularly in males, fork-tailed flycatchers are seen in shrubland, savanna, lightly forested and grassland areas, from southern Mexico to Argentina. They are frequently observed on conspicuous perches whence they sally after insect prey. Northern populations near southern Mexico tend to be permanent residents, while fork-tailed flycatchers that live further south are migrants with a reputation for wandering as far north as New Brunswick, Canada.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Tyrannus savana
Family: Tyrant Flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the tyrant flycatchers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

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