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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite:  A number of photos of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher!  They are all of the same bird!  Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are few and far between in South Dakota, as we've had less than a couple dozen confirmed sightings over the years.  However, in October of 2008, one was reported near Brookings, an hour+ drive. I made the trek, and found the bird right where it was reported (a rarity!!).  October in South Dakota, so the weather was getting chillier, but in the short-term, that was greatly benefiting this flycatcher! There were many grasshoppers around, but they were very sluggish in the colder weather. I watched this guy for several hours. He'd sit on the same barbed wire fence, or a nearby fence post or shrub, and periodically hop down to grab a grasshopper (see photo #8 below). Gorgeous bird, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to photograph him. I also hope he was smart enough to head back down south before the cold weather REALLY hit.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 1

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 2

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 3

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 4

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 5

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 6

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 7

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 8 (With Grasshopper)

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 9

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 10

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 11

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 12

October 2008

Near Brookings, South Dakota

Click here for the species description page for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl