Definition

Noun: 1. A type of flycatcher bird: The scissortail is a specific bird species (Tyrannus forficatus), also known as the scissor-tailed flycatcher. It is characterized by its extremely long, forked tail, which resembles a pair of open scissors, especially in flight.

Usage

• The scissortail is the state bird of Oklahoma.
• We spotted a scissortail perched on the fence post, its distinctive tail feathers clearly visible.
• The aerial acrobatics of the scissortail are fascinating to watch.

Advanced Usage

• "Scissortail" as a descriptive term: While primarily a proper noun for the bird, the distinctive tail shape can be used descriptively in other contexts (e.g., "scissortail kite").
  • The child's kite had a long, scissortail streamer.

Variants and Related Words

• Scissor-tailed flycatcher: The full, more formal common name for the bird.
• Tyrannus forficatus: The scientific (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Scissor-tailed flycatcher (direct synonym)
• Fork-tailed flycatcher (a related but different species; note this is not a perfect synonym but a similar descriptive name)

Related Idioms or Phrases

• There are no common idioms directly using the word "scissortail." Its use is almost exclusively ornithological or descriptive.

Noun

1. grey flycatcher of the southwestern United States and Mexico and Central America having a long forked tail and white breast and salmon and scarlet markings