. Birds of Massachusetts and other New England states. Birds; Birds. SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER 325 Haunts and Habits. The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is a well-marked species that rarely straggles into the United States from the south. It is noticeable that the speci- mens so far recorded in this country have appeared along the seaboard, and most of them not far from the shore. Probably this indicates that they were blown here by severe storms which carried them to sea, possibly from the coasts of Mexico or the Antilles. It is significant that there is no record from the interior of the country, th
. Birds of Massachusetts and other New England states. Birds; Birds. SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER 325 Haunts and Habits. The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is a well-marked species that rarely straggles into the United States from the south. It is noticeable that the speci- mens so far recorded in this country have appeared along the seaboard, and most of them not far from the shore. Probably this indicates that they were blown here by severe storms which carried them to sea, possibly from the coasts of Mexico or the Antilles. It is significant that there is no record from the interior of the country, though the bird inhabits a large part of Mexico. Its habits are similar to those of the flycatchers, but Sclater and Hudson note one departure from the usual habits of flycatchers as follows : "They are not gregarious, but once every day, just before the sun sets, all the birds living near together rise to the tops of the trees, calling to one another with loud, excited chirps, and then mount upward like rockets to a great height in the air; then, after whirling about for a few moments, they precipitate themselves downward with the greatest vio- lence, opening and shutting their tails during their wild zigzag flight, and uttering a suc- cession of sharp, grinding notes. After this curious performance they separate in pairs, and, perching on the tree-tops, each couple utters together its rattling castanet notes, after which the company breaks ; ^ Muscivora forficata (Gmelin). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Other name: swallow-tailed flycatcher. Description. — Bill decidedly shorter than head, moderately broad at base; a tj^pical flycatcher with long wings and an exceedingly long and very deeply forked tail, much longer than wing; first outer primary much attenuated and narrow for about .75 to .95 in. Adult male: Above generally light gray, head paler, with a concealed central patch of orange-red in center of crown; back and scapulars suffused with a pinkish tinge (somet
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Keywords: ., bookauthorforb, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds
