246 FLYCATCHERS 



5 . Sexes similar, largely olivaceous, brown, or black. 



6. Wing more than 3.25 , . Sayornis, p. 254. 



6'. Wing less than 3.25 Empidonax, p. 259. 



GENUS MUSCIVORA. 



General Characters. Outer primary cut out ; tail deeply forked ; bill 

 flattish, notched, and hooked ; feet small and weak. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. 3 or 4 primaries emarginate tyrannus, p. 246. 



1'. Only 1 primary emarginate forficata, p. 246. 



[442.] 'Muscivora tyrannus (Linn.). FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 



Adult male. Tail black, long, and forked, outer feathers edged with 

 white ; under parts pure white ; head black, with concealed yellow patch ; 

 back gray ; wings blackish brown, with grayish edgings. Adult female : 

 similar, but smaller, tail shorter, and yellow crown patch restricted. 

 Young : like adults, but tail shorter, sometimes scarcely forked, colors 

 duller, wing coverts bordered with rusty, and crown patch absent. Male : 

 length 12.00-14.50, wing 4.10-4.75, tail 9-10. 



Distribution. From southern Mexico south through Central America 

 and most of South America ; accidental in the United States (Mississippi, 

 Kentucky, New Jersey, and southern California). 



Nest. Of soft materials, often almost entirely wool, lined with thistle 

 down, which is cemented with gum, making a hard smooth bottom. Eggs : 

 4, cream color, spotted chiefly at the larger end with chocolate. 



Food. Aerial insects ; also elderberries and other small fruits. 



The fork-tailed flycatcher is only an accidental straggler in the 

 United States. 



443. Muscivora forficata (Gmel). SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCH- 

 ER. 



Adult male : Tail forked, white, tipped with black ; body ash gray, whiter 

 on throat ; wings blackish ; under wing coverts, axillars, and tail coverts 

 salmon ; head with concealed red spot and upper parts marked with red. 

 Adult female: similar, but smaller; tail shorter and colors duller. Young: 

 like adult female, but crown patch wanting. Male: length 12-15, wing 

 4.40-5.15, tail 7-10. 



Distribution. Breeds in Lower Sonoran zone from southwestern Mis- 

 souri to western Texas ; migrates to Costa Rica ; straggling rarely to Mani- 

 toba and Hudson Bay (York Factory). 



Nest. Generally 5 to 15 feet from the ground, in open situations, 

 preferably mesquite, but also other trees and thorny bushes; made 

 usually of fine rootlets and plant stems lined with plant fibers, wool, and 

 feathers ; but sometimes of gray moss, cotton, rags, and seaweed. Eggs : 

 usually 5, generally clear white, marked with browns and purples. 



Food. Moths, butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, cot- 

 ton-worms, and some berries. 



In visiting the southwestern prairie country the scissor-tail is one 

 of the first new birds you notice. Discovering him first perched on 

 the chaparral you are struck by his long white tail and glistening 

 black, white, and salmon plumage. In perching, the tail is closed 



