Fork-tailed flycatcher
Idaho is home to many experienced birders, some of whom will be able to take one look at a bird and say, “Aha! That’s a mountain bluebird!” Or “Ooh! A pileated woodpecker!”
But what if you looked through your binoculars one day and were surprised by the sight of a bird just below the average size of a raven with gray and black feathers and a very long forked tail?
If you’re only experienced in identifying Idahoan birds, this little feathery critter might stump you. Curious, you may grab your favorite birder’s guide and discover that you’ve spotted a fork-tailed flycatcher. You’ve never seen it before because it doesn’t actually live in Idaho. So what is it doing here?
The primarily pale gray coloration of the fork-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) is combined with the white underbelly, black head to create a beautiful sight to behold. They belong to the tyrannidae family, otherwise known as the tyrant flycatchers. Boasting more than 400 species, this family is quite varied and adaptable, found in virtually every habitat in the Americas. The fork-tailed flycatcher specifically is most at home in open spaces, like grasslands and pastures, with trees and bushes scattered across the landscape, hence their species name, savana.
You may have noticed that the fork-tailed flycatcher’s first name, Tyrannus, is quite similar to that of Tyrannosaurus rex. This is no coincidence. The English word “tyrant” comes from the Latin word “tyrannus,” which refers to an “absolute ruler.” The prowess flycatchers exhibit when darting after insects is very reminiscent of the fashion in which a Tyrannosaurus may have gone after other dinosaurs in primeval times. Despite its name, the fork-tailed flycatcher doesn’t just eat flies, but a wide variety of flying insects. Its agility when airborne is at least partially thanks to its black forked tail, as it helps the bird to turn on a dime. Interestingly, the males have longer tail forks than the females, making it easier for a casual human observer to differentiate the two genders.
There is still one mystery about this bird. If it isn’t native to Idaho, why is it occasionally spotted here? Are these birds the result of someone who accidentally left the birdcage open? Are they an invasive species? No, they just really like to travel. Fork-tailed flycatchers typically live much farther south, from Mexico to Argentina! This is their breeding range. When not in the mood to reproduce, the fork-tailed flycatcher may be spotted all across the United States, even in Idaho and up into southern Canada!
Seeing as Idaho is not their usual range, you are unlikely to spot a fork-tailed flycatcher in the wild. Nevertheless, it may be wise for birders to keep their eyes glued to the skies. You never know when you may be blessed with the rare appearance of one of these tiny tyrants of the skies!
• • •
Christian can be reached at animaladventures1314@gmail.com
