Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana savana)

Identification & Behavior: ~39 cm (15.3 in – male), 29 cm (11.4 in – female). The Fork-tailed Flycatcher has a light gray mantle and a black crown with a semi-concealed yellow crown patch. It has a deeply forked tail and long tail streamers; longer in the male. During migration in Amazonia, it forms large flocks often congregating at fruiting trees. It is similar to the Eastern Kingbird but is readily distinguished by having a deeply forked tail and long tail streamers.

Status: The Forked-tailed Flycatcher is a fairly common and widespread Austral migrant in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1000 m along the foothill of the Andes. To judge from the peak in abundance during the months of February through April and August through October, but birds in smaller number stay in Peru during the Austral migration. The Fork-tailed Flycatcher also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Tijereta Sabanera.

Sub-species: Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana savana), Vieillot, 1808.

Meaning of Name: Tyrannus: L. turannos, tyrannus= tyrant. savana: French “Savana,” the name given to the Fork-tailed Flycatcher by de Buffon 1770-1783.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae