Fork-tailed flycatcher

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Fork-tailed flycatcher
Fork-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus savana monachus) male Orange Walk.jpg
Male T. s. monachus in Belize
Fork-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus savana monachus) female.jpg
Female T. s. monachus in Panama
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
Species:
T. savana
Binomial name
Tyrannus savana
Daudin, 1802
Tyrannus savana map.svg
Fork-tailed flycatcher in Colombia Tijereta sabanera en Cauca, Colombia..jpg
Fork-tailed flycatcher in Colombia

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 their distinguishably long, forked tail, fork-tailed flycatchers are seen in lightly forested or grassland areas, from southern Mexico to south past Argentina. They are most frequently observed sitting on conspicuous perches waiting for flying arthropods to fly past, they then sally out, eat their prey, and return to their perches. 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 to as far north as New Brunswick, Canada.

Contents

Taxonomy

The fork-tailed flycatcher was described in 1760 by Mathurin Jacques Brisson under the French name "le tyran à queue fourchue" (lit. 'the fork-tailed tyrant') [2] and then again in 1780 by Georges-Louis Buffon under the name "le savana" [3] (because it lived in savannahs), [4] but it was not until 1802 that François Marie Daudin coined the binomial name Tyrannus savana. [5] The type locality is Suriname. [6] [7]

Four subspecies are recognised: [8]

Description

The fork-tailed flycatcher is white below, gray above, and has a black cap. Males sometimes show a yellow crown stripe. Males also have an extremely long, forked tail, of even greater length than that of the related scissor-tailed flycatcher. Females have a somewhat shorter tail, and it is significantly shorter in juveniles. Males are 37–41 cm (15–16 in) in length; females, 28–30 cm (11–12 in), including tail. They weigh only 28–32 g (0.99–1.13 oz), much less than closely related kingbirds, which are half the total length of this species. The tail in adult males is two to three times longer than the length of the bird from the bill to the base of the tail. Generally, males and females of the species look quite similar, but can be distinguished by the longer tail in males. [9]

The nominate subspecies T. s. savana has a darker grey back compared to T. s. monachus and T. s. sanctaemartae, which have notable light backs that contrast greatly with their black heads. Discrete notches on the primary feathers are also quite handy in identifying subspecies. [10]

Most fork-tailed flycatchers are migratory, but some stay year-round, especially in southern Mexico. Migratory fork-tailed flycatchers tend to have more pointed wings than nonmigratory flycatchers. [11]

Vocalizations

Fork-tailed flycatcher call in Argentina

Fork-tailed flycatchers produce both vocal and nonvocal sounds. In general, they have a dry, buzzy call, and a weak "tic-note" while in flight. [12]

Their wings have been observed to make a distinct whistling note while flying overhead. In fact, research has been conducted involving distinct differences in the pitch of whistling noises by different subspecies of T. savana. This recent research has pointed towards a hypothesis that fork-tailed flycatchers are splitting into two distinct species, as the nonmigratory birds have a much-lower-pitched whistling note than the migrators. This becomes another observed difference amongst others (e.g. wing shape) pointing to the two-species conclusion. [13]

During mating displays, the males' wings may also make dry, crackling sounds; further research has investigated the use of these wing noises in potentially startling predators or would-be nest parasites (e.g. shiny cowbird). [9]

Distribution and habitat

Fork-tailed flycatchers are usually found below 1000 m elevation where they occur in a wide variety of habitats including pastures, riparian forests, forest edges, mangroves, and open residential areas with scattered trees. During migration, however, T. savana may be found in an even broader range of habitats. [14]

Its breeding range is from central Mexico to central Argentina. In most of this range, it is usually found year-round, but in the southern parts of its range, it retreats northward for the winter.

During migration, fork-tailed flycatchers are quite gregarious, nesting in flocks of up to 10,000 individuals. [15] [16] This species is known to wander widely. It is spotted almost annually in the eastern United States seaboard and Canada, normally around fall (September–November).

During migration, fork-tailed flycatchers have been observed flying accompanied by relative species such as eastern kingbirds and aggressively chasing off predators. [17]

The nominate subspecies, T. s. savana, is found in central and southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina (south to the Río Negro), and overwinters in Amazonia, a large portion of northern South America (i.e., within the Orinoco River Basin), and Trinidad and Tobago, occasionally appearing in the West Indies. [18]

Behavior

Breeding

Males perform aerial courtship displays involving swirling somersaults, twists, and flips. All partnered with their buzzing calls, they do their best to impress female counterparts. [9] Courtship displays also provide a usage for their long tail feathers (which are longer in males), as a way to impress potential mates. [19] Breeding seasons are dependent on subspecies and location; breeding season ranges from late summer to mid-winter. [16]

Fork-tailed flycatchers tend to build their cup nests in similar habitats to their hunting grounds (riparian forests, grasslands). They tend to prefer specific trees in specific geographic locations, such as Kielmeyera trees in central Brazil. The clutch is 1–3 eggs. [20]

Diet

This species is primarily an insectivore but will switch to berries and small fruits during winter if insects become scarce. Fork-tailed flycatchers sally from their perches to eat flying insects or glean them off of leaves and fruit. When insects become less available in winter months, they have been observed eating fruits. [16]

Fork-tailed flycatcher's long tail is an important asset in their hunt for arthropods. The long tail allows them to turn on a dime and sally after prey. In fact, fork-tailed flycatchers – though small and light – can reach speeds up to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) and stop/turn impressively quickly using their flashy tails. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrant flycatcher</span> Family of birds found in the Americas

The tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds known to exist in the world, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and Canada. The members vary greatly in shape, patterns, size and colors. Some tyrant flycatchers may superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, which they are named after but are not closely related to. They are members of suborder Tyranni (suboscines), which do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of most other songbirds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern kingbird</span> Species of bird

The eastern kingbird is a large tyrant flycatcher native to the Americas. The bird is predominantly dark gray with white underbelly and pointed wings. Eastern kingbirds are conspicuous and are commonly found in open areas with scattered trees and bushes, where they perch while foraging for insects. The Eastern kingbird is migratory, with its breeding range spread across North America and its wintering range in Central and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingbird</span> Genus of birds

Tyrannus is a genus of small passerine birds in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae that are native to the Americas. The majority are named as kingbirds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scissor-tailed flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The scissor-tailed flycatcher, also known as the Texas bird-of-paradise and swallow-tailed flycatcher, is a long-tailed insectivorous bird of the genus Tyrannus, whose members are collectively referred to as kingbirds. It is found in North and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical kingbird</span> Species of perching bird

The tropical kingbird is a large tyrant flycatcher. This bird breeds from southern Arizona and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States through Central America, South America as far as south as central Argentina and eastern Peru, and on Trinidad and Tobago. Birds from the northernmost and southern breeding areas migrate to warmer parts of the range after breeding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great kiskadee</span> Species of bird

The great kiskadee, called bem-te-vi in Brazil, pitogue in Paraguay, and benteveo or bichofeo in Argentina, is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. It is the only member of the genus Pitangus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray kingbird</span> Species of bird

The gray kingbird or grey kingbird, also known as pitirre, petchary or white-breasted kingbird, is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatchers family Tyrannidae. The species was first described on the island of Hispaniola, then called Santo Domingo, thus the dominicensis name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-tailed tropicbird</span> Species of bird

The white-tailed tropicbird is a tropicbird. It is the smallest of three closely related seabirds of the tropical oceans and smallest member of the order Phaethontiformes. It is found in the tropical Atlantic, western Pacific and Indian Oceans. It also breeds on some Caribbean islands, and a few pairs have started nesting recently on Little Tobago, joining the red-billed tropicbird colony. In addition to the tropical Atlantic, it nests as far north as Bermuda, where it is locally called a "longtail".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassin's kingbird</span> Species of bird

Cassin's kingbird is a large tyrant flycatcher native to western North America. The name of this bird commemorates the American ornithologist John Cassin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common tody-flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The common tody-flycatcher or black-fronted tody-flycatcher is a very small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It breeds from southern Mexico to northwestern Peru, eastern Bolivia and southern, eastern and northeast Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thick-billed kingbird</span> Species of bird

The thick-billed kingbird is a large bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tufted tit-tyrant</span> Species of bird

The tufted tit-tyrant is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. This species is found in western South America; its range stretches from southern Colombia south along the Andes mountains to Tierra del Fuego. It prefers to live in upper montane forests and shrublands; however, it is a habitat generalist and can be found across a wide range of ecosystems. The tufted tit-tyrant has three subspecies, including the nominate subspecies Anairetes parulus parulus, A. p. aequatorialis, and A. p. patagonicus, and is very closely related to the Juan Fernández tit-tyrant. It is very small with a distinctive and conspicuous crest. The bird's head is black overall with white supraloral and postocular stripes. Its dull grayish-brown back contrasts with its white throat and breast that are covered with black streaks and pale, unmarked yellow underbelly. There are few noticeable differences in plumage between the subspecies. It is a vocal flycatcher with a broad repertoire of songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliff flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The cliff flycatcher is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family, Tyrannidae. The cliff flycatcher is the only species in the genus Hirundinea after the swallow flycatcher was merged, becoming subspecies Hirundinea ferruginea bellicosa. It is native to South America, where its natural habitats are cliffs and crags in the vicinity of subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectacled tyrant</span> Species of bird

The spectacled tyrant is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Hymenops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmeted pygmy tyrant</span> Species of bird

The helmeted pygmy tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated kingbird</span> Species of bird

The white-throated kingbird is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, and in the Guianas of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant kingbird</span> Species of bird

The giant kingbird is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae endemic to Cuba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-naped xenopsaris</span> Species of bird in South America

The white-naped xenopsaris, also known as the reed becard and white-naped becard, is a species of suboscine bird in the family Tityridae, the only member of the genus Xenopsaris. It is found in South America, in humid subtropical and tropical savanna climates in most of the countries east of the Andes: Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. Living in open woodland and other open forest habitats, it is mostly sedentary, though some populations may be migratory. The species, which is closely related to becards and tityras, was thought to be either a tyrant-flycatcher or cotinga, before it was placed in Tityridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suiriri flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The suiriri flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae found in semi-open habitats in South America. It was formerly split into two species; the Chaco suiriri and the Campo suiriri. Suiriri originates from Guaraní, where it is a generic name used for several medium-sized tyrant flycatchers.

Aracuri-Esmeralda Ecological Station is an ecological station in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is in the Atlantic Forest biome.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Tyrannus savana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22700503A93780761. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22700503A93780761.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode Contenant la Division des Oiseaux en Ordres, Sections, Genres, Especes & leurs Variétés (in French and Latin). Vol. 2. Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. pp. 395–398.
  3. ↑ Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc de (1780). "Le Savana". Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux (in French). Vol. 14. Paris: L'Imprimerie Royale. pp. 557–558.
  4. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. Bloomsbury. ISBN   978-1-4081-3326-2. given […] by de Buffon […] because it inhabited flooded savanna grasslands
  5. ↑ Lacépède, Bernard Germain de; Daudin, François Marie (1799). "Tableau des sous-classes, divisions, sous-divisions, ordres et genres des oiseaux, par le Cen Lacépède; avec l'indication de toutes les espèces décrites par Buffon, et leur distribution dans chacun des genres, par F. M. Daudin". In Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc de (ed.). Histoire Naturelle par Buffon Dédiée au citoyen Lacépède, membre de l'Institut National (in French). Vol. 14: Quadrupedes. Paris: P. Didot l'ainé et Firmin Didot. pp. 197–346 [227]. Although the date of 1799 is printed on the title page, this volume was not published until 1802. For a discussion of the date see: Richmond, Charles W. (1899). "On the date of Lacépède's 'Tableaux'". Auk. 16 (4): 325–329. doi:10.2307/4069359. JSTOR   4069359.
  6. ↑ Zimmer, John Todd (1937). "Studies of Peruvian birds. No. 27, Notes on the genera Muscivora, Tyrannus, Empidonomus, and Sirystes, with further notes on Knipolegus". American Museum of Natural History. American Museum Novitates: No. 962: 1–2. hdl:2246/3860.
  7. ↑ Traylor, Melvin A. Jr, ed. (1979). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 8. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 226.
  8. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2020). "Tyrant flycatchers". IOC World Bird List Version 10.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 Roche, John P (September 2005). "Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott, and David Christie. Barcelona (Spain): Lynx Edicions. $195.00. 863 p; ill.; index. ISBN: 84–87334–69–5. 2004". The Quarterly Review of Biology. 80 (3): 365. doi:10.1086/497223. ISSN   0033-5770.
  10. ↑ Lloyd-Evans, Trevor L. (November 2009). "Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part II.— Peter Pyle . 2008. Slate Creek Press, Point Reyes Station, CA". The Condor. 111 (4): 764–767. doi:10.1525/cond.2009.review07. ISSN   0010-5422. S2CID   84007606.
  11. ↑ Carvalho Provinciato, Ivan C.; Araújo, Márcio S.; Jahn, Alex E. (August 2018). "Drivers of wing shape in a widespread Neotropical bird: a dual role of sex-specific and migration-related functions". Evolutionary Ecology. 32 (4): 379–393. doi:10.1007/s10682-018-9945-4. hdl: 11449/171201 . ISSN   0269-7653. S2CID   49864430.
  12. ↑ Rosenberg, Gary H. (July 2010). "Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America.— Robert S. Ridgely and Guy Tudor . 2009. University of Texas Press, Austin. ISBN 9780292717480". Auk. 127 (3): 717–718. doi: 10.1525/auk.2010.127.3.717 . S2CID   86322564.
  13. ↑ Gómez-Bahamón, Valentina; Tuero, Diego T; Castaño, María Isabel; Jahn, Alex E; Bates, John M; Clark, Christopher J (2020-08-10). "Sonations in Migratory and Non-migratory Fork-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus savana)". Integrative and Comparative Biology. 60 (5): 1147–1159. doi: 10.1093/icb/icaa115 . ISSN   1540-7063. PMID   32777043.
  14. ↑ Roy, Michael S.; Torres-Mura, Juan Carlos; Hertel, Fritz (February 1999). "Molecular Phylogeny and Evolutionary History of the Tit-Tyrants (Aves: Tyrannidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 11 (1): 67–76. doi:10.1006/mpev.1998.0563. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   10082611.
  15. ↑ Jahn & Tuero, A, D. (March 4, 2020). "fork-tailed flycatcher". Birds of the World.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. 1 2 3 Jahn, Alex. E.; Tuero, D. T. (2020-03-04), Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.), "Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.fotfly.01 , retrieved 2020-09-26
  17. ↑ Guic, Laura (2019-09-20). Ramos Mejía y las multitudes argentinas : una intervención política en Buenos Aires, hacia fines del SXIX. Universidad Nacional de Lanús. Maestría en Metodología de la Investigación Científica. doi:10.18294/rdi.2020.177030. S2CID   242506188.
  18. ↑ Rosenberg, Gary H. (July 2010). "Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America.— Robert S. Ridgely and Guy Tudor . 2009. University of Texas Press, Austin. 760 pp., 121 color plates, 135 pages of range maps and country maps. ISBN 9780292717480". Auk. 127 (3): 717–718. doi: 10.1525/auk.2010.127.3.717 . ISSN   0004-8038. S2CID   86322564.
  19. 1 2 Jahn, Alex E.; Giraldo, Jose I.; MacPherson, Maggie; Tuero, Diego T.; Sarasola, José Hernán; Cereghetti, Joaquin; Masson, Diego A.; Morales, Marvin V. (2016-04-12). "Demographic variation in timing and intensity of feather molt in migratory Fork-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus s. savana)". Journal of Field Ornithology. 87 (2): 143–154. doi: 10.1111/jofo.12147 . ISSN   0273-8570.
  20. ↑ Marini, M.Â.; Lobo, Y.; Lopes, L.E.; França, L.F.; Paiva, L.V.D. (2009). "Biologia reprodutiva de Tyrannus savana (Aves, Tyrannidae) em cerrado do Brasil Central" [Breeding biology of Tyrannus savana (Aves, Tyrannidae) in cerrado of Central Brazil]. Biota Neotropica (in Portuguese). 9 (1): 55–63. doi: 10.1590/S1676-06032009000100007 .
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