General

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Medium-sized flycatcher with pale gray upperparts, black head, inconspicuous yellow crown stripe, and white underparts. Wings and spectacularly long, deeply forked tail are black. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has brown head.

Range and Habitat

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Occurs from southern Mexico to Argentina, but strays to the eastern U.S. seaboard. Prefers savannas and pastures with trees or low bushes.

Breeding and Nesting

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Two to three white eggs with brown and lavender spots are laid in a cup nest made of grass, plant fibers, leaves, and bark shreds lined with seed down, plant down, and hair. Incubation ranges from 14 to 17 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Eats insects, berries, and fruits; forages by catching insects in air or plucking them from vegetation.

Readily Eats

Meal Worms

Vocalization

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Song is a low, chattering "ek-ek-ek-ek-ek." Call is a sharp, repetitive "sik" or "plik."

Similar Species

Fork-tailed Flycatcher: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher has gray head and salmon-pink sides, flanks, and underwings.