scissortail
Học thuậtThân thiện
A scissortail perches on a fence post, its long forked tail spread behind it.
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.
A scissortail perches on a fence post, its long forked tail spread behind it.
Noun
- 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