We are inching closer and closer to the official date of my favorite holiday of the year. Although our huge 2-day celebration of the black and orange comes earlier (typically a month earlier), we still enjoy the national day of spook. Being rural we do not get any trick-or-treaters as the effort to go door to door far outweighs the reward. The traditional candy stalkers have gotten soft choosing to drop into the nice neighborhoods with full bar handouts or the drive through trick-or-trunk options at the local malls. Halloween is the night we jump into the car and seek out all the local displays to assess and get ideas for next year’s haunted trail. Fills our hearts to see so many houses still resisting the encroachment of corporate Christmas and keeping the scare tradition alive and well. In honor of October’s special day, thought I would feature a feathered friend that sports a touch of those traditional Halloween colors.
Hit the jump to see a few more images of this flamboyantly tailed Flycatcher.
Today’s feature holds a special place on my checklist as it was in my first group of “chase” birds – for our international friends, “twitching”. A lot has been written about the difference between birding and birdwatching (reminds me of the words wasted on distinguishing jogging from running), but the degree of pursuit is often the distinction (link here). My first ever official rarity hunt was back in 2015 for the Swallow-Tailed Kite that showed up at my Alma Mater (link here). Clearly I am a sucker for well-tailed birds ha.
Back in 2021 we were alerted to a rarity that was hanging out at an electrical substation about an hour away in Havana, IL. That rarity was the Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher – the exact same species being featured today. I remember standing in absolute awe as that specimen glided between the trees and a large chain link fence (link here). I had no idea we had access to such a beautiful bird in the US, much less relatively speaking in my backyard! I had transitioned to a “birder” and well, never looked back. So many years later I still enjoying traveling to see new birds and always sport a big smile when we encountering those beauties that got my journey started.
Although a rarity to Illinois, the Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher is a regular migrant to our adopted state of Texas. These flowy tailed specimens spend their winters in the central to southern regions of Central America. They migrate northward into Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and even into Nebraska and Missouri. They also have a pension to get lost and randomly show up in many other states (just like it did in Illinois). If you switch to the Sightings Map on Cornell you will see reports in every state in the US and even up into Canada.
Typically on our January trips to Texas we are a bit early for their migration, however, last year we swapped our trips and went to Arizona to get away from the white fluffy stuff (well, that was the intention) which meant we were in Texas for Spring giving us multiple opportunities to enjoy these beautiful birds. This particular series was taken on the levee at the back of Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, TX. If you have spent any time at Intrigued you are well aware of this spot as we often bring you finds from my absolute favorite birding destination. On this day I spent hours trying to get the specimen(s) in flight in order to show off their incredible tails.
A pair of Scissors were hanging out in the trees near the water line and doing what Flycatchers do – launch off a branch, snatch an unsuspecting victim from the air and return back near the starting point. This predictability is a tremendous help for us photographers as we get opportunity after opportunity to attempt to get these highly acrobatic birds in the tin. Although further away than I would have liked to have been, managed to get some decent shots with the tail in its full glory. While looking at the shots in the digital darkroom, clearly the bird(s) were proud of their unique and functional tail feathers.
Those elongated features allow this Flycatcher increased maneuverability on the wing – assuredly much to the disgust of their prey. In addition to those amazing tail feathers, these flight shots also give you a good look at their orangy (some would same salmon-pink) underwing highlights that extend down onto the flanks. There is a brighter patch just under the wing that is also noticeable from the top which I will show you just a bit.
The males and females look similar in these species so unable to distinguish the sexes of the two specimens – based on their behavior, guessing they were mates as this species does not like intruders in their nesting spots and will quickly attack anything they deem are encroaching on their turf. They may look pretty, but they will not hesitate to throw down on Hawks, Mocks and Shrikes etc. should one not respect the tail ha.
In the shot above, you can just make out the brighter underwing patch at the shoulder edges – I do have a better shot of that coming, but wanted to point that out while I was here.
There are 33 New World Flycatchers in the Tyrannidae family and I am proud to say I have 28 of those checked off my life list. I need to check with Brad to see what our “Intrigued” coverage is, but as of now I am only missing the Buff-Breasted FC, Brown-Crested FC, Sulphur-Bellied FC, and two Kingbirds – Thick-Billed and Gray.
As a whole, the Tyrannidae family is both wildly diverse and yet similar at the same time. Birders are well aware of the nightmare that can confront them when trying to identify the multitude of similarly adorned gray/olive feathered members, yet there are some with brilliant coloring like the Vermilion and Great Kiskadee that are immediately identified. Although similarly colored to the female Vermilion, the Scissor-tailed is the only one in the family with the fancy butt cover. Note, there is a Forked-Tailed Flycatcher that shows up from time to time in the States, but that is not officially identified by the ABA. It has a similarly long tail, but honestly, the coloring and shape pales to our resident – it kind of reminds me of an Eastern Kingbird with a much longer and, surprise, forked tail.
For those traveling in the South Padre Island area, another really good place to find the Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher is behind the SPI Convention Center. In the spring, if you take the free Laguna Madre Trail right next to the convention center you will usually spot multiple specimens hunting the area behind the center (look towards the direction of the convention center flats).
As mentioned, I wish I could have gotten a little closer to these two Scissors in order to bring you better detailed shots. I also ended up keeping the buildings in the background and guessing my fellow photographers probably noticed the powerlines in the background of some of these shots. There was just something about the delicate looking birds against the Mesquite trees and undustrialish horizon that appealed to me… and the forked limbs perched by two highly forked tailed- birds.
Saw the shot above and immediately thought that insect was about to experience a very bad day ha! Not a lot goes unnoticed by a Flycatcher.
Now for that shot that shows the underwing patches from the top better. You can definitely see that orange/red coloring at the top and bottom of the shoulder. Take a bow Scissor, you earned it!
This final shot is soft, but turns out the only one in the series that showed the top of the wings in flight. Would have been nice had it fully expanded its tail at the same time – reminds me of angels with those beautiful outstretched wings.
Hope you enjoyed these images of an absolute stunner of a Flycatcher. The local rarity came back to Havana for the following year with a mate, but has not been seen since. Fortunately, we have the opportunity from time to time to encounter these birds on our southern travels. Now to get to work on getting those five remaining Flycatchers checked off the list.
Take care, hope you are getting your costumes all ready for the big night!
Wildlife Intrigued 
Beautiful birds!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Completely agree Anneli, one of those birds you never forget your first sighting of. A ways away from you though, but hopefully you will get one up there someday (they tend to get lost a lot) or your travels might bring you into the Texas area. Take care and thanks for dropping in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that some of those rarely seen birds sometimes find their way up here, and, hopefully, safely back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially like when they go back, find a mate and introduce them to the new lands they found the previous year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some really beautiful shots of a beautiful bird.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you David, it took some time to get shots I was willing to share – luckily for me, like most FCs, they are pretty predictable giving me a multitude of tries. Hope all is well with you and Happy Halloween!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely set of shots of beautiful birds
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much Brian! One of those birds whose beauty deserves taking the time to get some decent shots. As I mentioned to David, fortunately with FCs you tend to get a number of chances thanks to their predictability. Appreciate you coming by and have yourself a Happy Halloween.
LikeLike
Fantastic. Super charming.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you enjoyed the Scissor shots Luisella. They are a beautiful bird and we always enjoy any encounters we are fortunate to have with them. Not sure of the customs in your part of the world, but have yourself a Happy Halloween!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What great shots of the flamboyant tail! I love the shot of the two perched opposite each other on the branches that converge to a V. Susan, a fellow photographer and former blogger, and I share the same birthday. We went out to lunch yesterday to celebrate our birthdays. There is a house at the end of her block that goes all out ape shit on Halloween animatronics and props. I did not get a photo. We haven’t had trick-or-treaters in over 40 years.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Tim – that dual shot is one of my favorites as well – like sentinels keeping an eye on both their flanks. Happy birthday Tim hope you had a celebration worthy of the occasion – tell Susan happy birthday from us as well! If you happen to go by that house again, snap me a picture and let me see what they have – always like checking in on my competition ha. My partner in haunt Paul offered for us to go up to Wisconsin with him this Halloween. He has part ownership of his childhood house with his sister and he puts up a portion of our trail props for their Halloween trick-or-treaters – get this, they get over 500 visitors – now that is a pretty penny in candy investment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holy guacamole! 500 trick-or-treaters. We haven’t had trick-or-treaters in over 40 years, and before that, it was our daughter and a few of her friends. I need to measure Susan’s ramps for anti-slip tape. I’ll try to get up tomorrow after my 11:00 meeting and photograph the house. No guarantee. I don’t think it’s very well done. It’s more of a monster mash of how many props they can fit in the yard. No creative planning that I can tell. No competition as far as I’m concerned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have zero ToTs here, of course, but 500 is definitely tempting for us to head up there – we like looking at all the kids in their costumes. Oh, I need to look at those shots you sent – we appreciate anyone that takes the time to honor the orange and black.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning bird and super shots B.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you B.! They do tend to get lost a lot, but not sure of the chances of one of these making it all the way over there. If it does, you will definitely have to grit your teeth and twitch it. Hope all is well across the pond and guessing it isn’t celebrated as much as it is here, but best wishes for a Happy Halloween – don’t let the ghouls get ya ha.
LikeLike
Sweet pics. Rei forces that nature is truly amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jerry – definitely brings it front and center just how beautiful nature can be – except for those damn asshat Cowbirds, we can do without those for sure ha. Take care and have yourself a Happy Halloween.
LikeLike
Allow me agree as well – stunning images of a beautiful bird✨
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are definitely allowed Takami – I think this is one of the more beautiful birds we have here in the States. I wish we had greater opportunity to see them, but fortunate we do like to travel into their preferred regions. So thankful they didn’t get found by our early fashion industry or their numbers would have definitely been decimated like our Egrets and Herons. Hope all is well with you and your husband – sending you all the best wishes for wonderful photography days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great shots of quite a tail! (Does Intrigued HR allow me to say that?) Congrats on catching a rarity nearly in your back yard.
LikeLike
Stunning photos, really well-done! I just love the shot of the bird bowing, showing salmon front-to-back under the wing, I hadn’t realized that was the case. And your multiple photos of that scissoring tail are just wonderful. Can’t wait for spring, when I can go visit with them again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I noticed there are a few sightings still in the Houston, Galveston, Port Aransas area but they are definitely coming to the end of their season (actually feels more like past their season at this point). We missed them this year as we shifted back to our January timeframe and didn’t locate them in our Arizona trip in March – a painful miss on this year’s list ugh. Glad you enjoyed the tail shots – I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to get that in the tin – you would laugh at all the shots I had to delete. The Juncos arrived this weekend so winter is definitely on its way – looking forward to spring for sure although it is looking like we will be heading to Seattle or Portland for the agility nationals next year for spring – Ruger had a really good weekend and needs just one more qualifying run to meet the requirements for nationals which he should have no problem getting between now and the end of the year – should bring a whole bunch more bird lifers as I have only been to that region once in the past – work visit to Microsoft. Hope you have recovered from your recent trip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A spring trip to the Northeast will likely bring you all kinds of new birds – plus an award-winning pup!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would definitely fill a huge gap in my birding profile, that’s for sure. Ruger is FINALLY coming in to his own as it took a while to break through the puppy fog. Given the runway to next April I think he will be peaking at the perfect time….assuming no “zoomies” reappear in which case all bets are OFF – he likes agility, but he loves the 100 yd dash competitions, sometimes he gets them confused and agility audience is given a new definitions for all out speed to their amusement and Linda’s absolute frustration. They just had a really good weekend I’ll probably be bragging about on my next post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beautiful birds! They are pretty when perching, but I really liked your photos of them in flight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are so fun to watch. As you say, they look gorgeous on a wire or in the air so you can’t go wrong with these Flycatchers when it comes to getting snaps. I will say, harder to get it done when they are in the air ha! These two specimens were probably wondering when the paparazzi was going to move on so they could hunt undisturbed…although, in truth, guessing they know how beautiful they are and enjoyed showing off. Have yourself a great week and appreciate you coming by.
LikeLiked by 1 person