The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 
Recognition Marks. —Towhee size (disregarding the prolonged tail-feathers); 
the lengthened tail with light gray-orange-and-black coloration unmistakable. 
Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: Normally of twigs, rootlets, 
or weed-stems, copiously lined with wool, cotton, or other soft materials; occasionally 
bulk of nest consists of “Spanish moss’’ or any soft substance available; placed 5 to 
40 feet high in trees or shrubs, usually on horizontal limb in more or less exposed situa¬ 
tion. Eggs: 4 to 6, usually 5; ovate or rounded ovate; clear white or pale creamy, 
rarely palest pink, strikingly but sparingly spotted or blotched with maroon (burnt 
lake to claret brown) and a little lavender (deep grayish lavender to deep dull lavender). 
Av. of 107 (U. S. N. M.): 22.5 x 17 (.89 x .67). Season: May, June (April 19-July 
6); one or two broods. 
General Range. — Breeds in Texas and Oklahoma and narrowly in adjoining 
states to the north and east of this area; winters from southern Mexico to Panama; 
accidental locally from Florida to New Brunswick, Keewatin, and Colorado, and in 
California. 
Range in California. —One specimen taken in northern Los Angeles County. 
Authorities.—Swarth, Condor, vol. xvii., 1915, p. 203. 
THE SOLE claim offered by this bird for a place upon the California 
list was made by a single example, an adult male secured by Dr. I. D. 
Nokes, of Los Angeles, on June 26, 1915, in the northern part of Los 
Angeles County, on the Elizabeth Lake road. When first seen, the bird 
was flitting from post to post along a roadside fence, and there was 
nothing in its appearance to suggest the unusual; but upon dissection 
it was found to have a partly healed injury upon the head, as though 
it might have collided with a telegraph line or other obstacle. This 
Scissor-tail was evidently not an escaped cage-bird, for the maintenance 
of such a species would be all but impossible. On the whole, probably 
Mr. Daggett’s suggestion is as good as any. He surmised that the 
bird might have been accidentally trapped somewhere in Texas in an 
empty cattle car waiting re-shipment to California. It is quite con¬ 
ceivable that this involuntary hobo might have subsisted upon the flies 
which swarm about such a reeking stable, even en route, and might have 
effected its escape at, say, Mohave. 
Upon its native heath in Texas the graceful Scissor-tail is one of 
the most familiar, as it is the most courageous, of birds. Since he is 
quite exotic, we rejoice in the necessity of quoting these able paragraphs 
from Mrs. Bailey: 
“One of his favorite performances is to fly up and, with rattling 
wings, execute an aerial seesaw, a line of sharp-angled VVVVVVV’s, 
helping himself at the short turns by rapidly opening and shutting his long 
white scissors. As he goes up and down he utters all the while a pene¬ 
trating scream, ka-quee -ka-quee ka-quee -ka-quee -ka-quee, the emphasis 
being given each time at the top of the ascending line. 
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