Tyran des savanes

En bref

Migratrice
  • Scientific Name: Tyrannus savana
  • Spanish Name: Tijereta
  • Famille : Tyrannidae
  • Known Nicknames: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (in part, but distinct species), Fork-tailed Kingbird
  • Average Length: 37–41 cm / 14.5–16 in (including tail)
  • Average Weight: 28–35 g / 1.0–1.2 oz
  • Wingspan: 28–33 cm / 11–13 in
  • Key Feature: Extremely long, deeply forked tail (outer rectrices up to 30 cm)
  • Régime alimentaire principal : Principalement insectivore
  • Range: Southern Mexico through Central and South America to central Argentina
  • Habitat: Open savannas, grasslands, pastures, and agricultural fields with scattered trees
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in small groups; sometimes gregarious during migration
  • Nesting/Breeding: Open cup nest in a tree or shrub fork
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : Stable

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher (*Tyrannus savana*) is a dazzling aerial acrobat of the Americas, instantly recognizable by its impossibly long, scissor-like tail feathers that can more than double its body length, streaming behind it like a black ribbon. A sleek bird of the tyrant flycatcher family, it sports a crisp white chest and belly, a slate-gray back, and a neat black cap atop its head, with males flaunting the most extravagant tail streamers. True to its name, it is a master insect hunter, launching from exposed perches to snatch dragonflies and beetles mid-flight, and is famous for its dramatic, swooping courtship displays where it spirals and dives to show off its spectacular tail. This migratory marvel travels in large, noisy flocks between South America and parts of North America, and its bold, sallying flight style, combined with its extreme tail, makes it one of the most visually striking and charismatic flycatchers in the world.

Faits amusants

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher’s tail is so absurdly long—up to twice its body length—that it can’t fly in a straight line without compensating, leading to a distinctive, erratic, side-to-side flight pattern that looks like it’s constantly correcting a steering problem. During migration, they form massive, noisy flocks that roost in dense, thorny trees, and they’ve been observed performing a bizarre “anting” behavior where they rub ants or other insects on their feathers, possibly to use the formic acid as a parasite deterrent. Males are fiercely territorial and will aggressively mob much larger birds like hawks and crows, sometimes even dive-bombing humans who wander too close to their nest.

Habitats et répartition

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher inhabits open and semi-open landscapes, including savannas, grasslands, pastures, agricultural fields, and the edges of gallery forests or marshes. It is highly associated with scattered trees, fence lines, and shrubs that serve as perching sites for insect-hawking. This species avoids dense, continuous forests. Its geographical range extends from southern Mexico through Central America and across most of South America east of the Andes, from Colombia and Venezuela south to central Argentina. Northern populations are migratory, with many birds from southern South America moving northward during the austral winter, reaching as far as northern South America and occasionally straying into North America.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is socially monogamous during the breeding season, with pairs forming shortly after males establish territories through aerial displays and vocalizations. Males perform elaborate courtship flights, soaring high while singing to attract a female, then descending in a zigzag pattern to demonstrate fitness. Both sexes participate in nest construction, building a shallow cup of twigs and grasses in a tree fork. The female typically lays 2–4 eggs and incubates them alone for about 14–16 days, while the male guards the territory and brings food. After hatching, both parents feed the chicks, which fledge at around 15–17 days. A notable reproductive strategy is their strong site fidelity; pairs often return to the same breeding grounds in consecutive years, though they do not reuse the same nest. The species exhibits no cooperative breeding or brood parasitism, relying instead on high parental investment and territorial defense to maximize offspring survival.

Alimentation

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is almost exclusively insectivorous, with its diet primarily consisting of flying insects such as bees, wasps, dragonflies, beetles, and grasshoppers, which it catches in mid-air during agile aerial sallies from a prominent perch. An interesting fact about its feeding strategy is that it often forages in loose flocks during migration, taking advantage of insect swarms stirred up by cattle or other large mammals. Additionally, while insects form the bulk of its diet, it will occasionally supplement its intake with small fruits and berries, particularly during the non-breeding season or when insect prey is scarce.

Couleurs

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is predominantly black on the head, back, wings, and long, deeply forked tail, contrasting sharply with a pure white belly and underparts. It has a subtle white stripe on the wing coverts and a narrow white collar at the nape, with no camouflage adaptations; its bold black-and-white coloration is instead a clear signal for territorial and mating displays.