scissortailed flycatcher

Thân thiện

A scissortailed flycatcher perches on a fence post in an open field.

Definition

Noun: 1. A species of bird (Tyrannus forficatus), a grey flycatcher native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It is distinguished by its extremely long, deeply forked tail, white underparts, and salmon-pink and scarlet markings on its sides and underwings.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The scissortailed flycatcher is easily identified by its spectacular tail.
  • We spotted a scissortailed flycatcher perched on a fence wire, scanning for insects.
  • The salmon-colored flanks of the scissortailed flycatcher become more vivid during the breeding season.

Advanced Usage

• The common name "scissortailed" is a direct reference to the bird's distinctive tail, which resembles an open pair of scissors, especially in flight.
• In ornithological contexts, it is often discussed as an example of a bird with extreme sexual selection for tail ornamentation.

Variants and Related Words

• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: An alternative, hyphenated spelling of the common name.
• Tyrannus forficatus: The scientific (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Scissor-tail (informal, a shortened form of the name).
• Texas bird-of-paradise (a regional colloquial name, referencing its spectacular appearance and common presence in Texas).

Học thuật

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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• scissortail
• Muscivora-forficata