Around the middle of July a Fork-tailed Flycatcher appeared in Memramcook and stayed for a couple of days. This is a rare species for New Brunswick and was seen by a few birders.
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) is a Tyrant Flycatcher which is a large family group. The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is more closely related to the kingbirds and the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, which are all of the Tyrannus species. Fork-tailed Flycatchers are named for their very long, forked tails and were first described in 1760 by Mathurin Jacques Brisson and were variously named until 1802 when Francois Marie Daudin gave the species its present name, Tyrranus savana. This species is not mentioned in the literature by Austin Squires so presumably was not officially recorded here until the 1970s when the first record came from Grand Bay in October, 1977. Various other individuals have been reported from Kent Island (June, 1991), New Horton (October, 1992), North Head (October, 2000), Miscou (October, 2011), and Grand Barachois (September, 2002). So, not totally rare here, it certainly is an exciting find both in its appearance and in its scarcity.
Where is this bird normally found? Well, a long way away. Its normal range is southern Mexico and most of South America, ranging well down almost to the southern part of Argentina. In most of that range it is usually found year-round but in the southern part it moves north during the southern winter. Vagrants from this species do occur so that explains why a few reach the coasts of the US and up the eastern seaboard to Maine and New Brunswick. During migration these birds gather in large flocks, sometimes up to 10,000 birds. They are sometimes accompanied by their close relatives such as Eastern Kingbirds.
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is 30-35 cm long (11 to 15 inches). That includes the long tail. In adult males the tail is 2 to 3 times as long as the bird's body. Males have slightly longer tails than females. The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is white below, gray above and has a black cap. There are no wing bars and the black cap extends down below the eye on the cheek. Occasionally the males have a yellow crown stripe but his has not been described in any individuals seen here. In the photo above it can been seen that the tail is relatively short (not 2 to 3 times the length of the body) and shows wear on its outer feathers. That would indicate this is an adult female. Note the photo below of a male.
Fork-tailed Flycatchers make a buzzy, chittery sound which is not musical at all. Apparently their wings make a whistling sound in flight. During mating displays the male's wings make a crackling sound. During breeding males perform elaborate courtship displays. They swirl, flip, twist and do somersaults while making buzzing sounds. This must be impressive to watch with their very long forked tails! Nests are built in their favourite habitat (riparian forests and grasslands). Nests are cup-shaped and made of grasses, plant fibres, leaves and bark shreds and are lined with seed down. Two to three white eggs with brown and lavender spots are incubated for 14 to 17 days by the female.
Fork-tailed Flycatchers are insectivores. They sit on conspicuous perches from which they fly out to catch their prey which they eat before returning to the perch. They will also eat berries and fruits.
An interesting fact is that Fork-tailed Flycatchers have longer tails than Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. According to an ornithological source a group of flycatchers can be called an 'outfield', a 'swatting', a 'zapper' and a 'zipper'. I don't know about you but I would like to see a 'zipper' of Fork-tailed Flycatchers.
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