The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 
clan are driven southward, or downward, as the case may be, while the 
non-migrating forms foregather in dozens, or scores, where food is abun¬ 
dant. They are also somewhat given to wandering about in straggling 
flocks, and the mild cries which they scatter freely have a subdued and 
plaintive tone, borrowed, no doubt, from the chastened character of the 
season. A sitting flock will sometimes allow a very close approach, but 
when they do so, they “freeze” so perfectly that the eye can scarcely find 
them. The only thing to do under such circumstances is to freeze also, 
until the birds begin to limber up and steal cautiously away, taking 
advantage, for concealment, of every tuft of grass or depression of the 
ground, and giving occasional admonitory yips to their fellows. 
Taken in Kern County Photo by the Author 
DESERT RANGE OF THE MOHAVE HORNED LARK 
No. 163 
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 
A. O. U. No. 443. Muscivora forficata (Gmelin). 
Description. —Adult male: Foreparts light gray, clearest, almost white on 
chin and throat; a subaxillary patch on side of breast and a concealed patch on crown 
scarlet or grenadine red; the axillars, wing-linings, sides, and posterior underparts 
ochraceous salmon or salmon-buff. This red element appears on back and scapulars, 
where intimately mingled with gray, and is continued in a diluted form (pale ochraceous 
salmon) over the greatly prolonged exterior rectrices (two pairs) for about two-thirds 
of their length; the wing-coverts dusky, edged with pinkish, buffy, or white; the primary 
coverts, wing-quills, upper tail-coverts, and remaining portion of tail black. Bill 
dark horn; feet brownish black. Adult female: Like male, but tail only two-thirds 
as long and crown-patch obsolete or wanting; the red element in the plumage much 
reduced in intensity, flame-scarlet on the subaxillary patches, capucine buff to light 
buff posteriorly. Length of adult male (skins): 320 to 365 (12.60-14.37); wing 125 
(4.92); tail 200-255 (7.87-10.04); bill 18 (.71); tarsus 18.2 (.717). 
847 
