Tyrannus savana
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) is an arresting avian spectacle, instantly recognizable by its extraordinarily long, deeply forked tail, a feature particularly exaggerated in males, which can reach nearly 50 cm in total length, with the tail alone comprising two-thirds of that. Measuring typically 37-41 cm (14.6-16.1 inches) including the tail and weighing between 28-44 grams, this elegant flycatcher sports a pale gray head, brilliant white underparts, and a contrasting dark back...
This species thrives in open, treeless or sparsely wooded habitats such as grasslands, savannas, pastures, agricultural fields, and forest clearings, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Its diet consists predominantly of insects, including flies, beetles, grasshoppers, bees, and wasps, which it captures in flight; it also supplements its diet with small amounts of fruit and berries, particularly during the non-breeding season.
A highly active, diurnal hunter, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is renowned for its agile, acrobatic flight. Its primary foraging strategy involves aerial hawking: perching conspicuously on a prominent branch, wire, or tall weed, it sallies forth to snatch flying insects mid-air, often performing com...
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is a widespread Neotropical migrant. Its primary breeding range extends across the southern cone of South America, encompassing central and southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and central to northern Argentina. Following the austral breeding season, these popul...
Least Concern
- The male Fork-tailed Flycatcher possesses one of the longest tail-to-body ratios of any passerine bird in the world, with its streamers often twice the length of its body. - Despite its relatively small size, it is a highly aggressive bird, known to 'mob' and chase much larger raptors, includin...