The other day, I was exploring the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, specifically the area between the entrance to the Auto Tour Road and the Tuff Boat Ramp. As I drove along, keeping an eye out for interesting wildlife, I spotted a flash of vibrant color. It was a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, a stunning bird known for its long, deeply forked tail.
But this flycatcher wasn’t just perched on a branch. It was doing something even more fascinating – it was hovering! I managed to pull over quickly and turned my truck into a makeshift photo blind. Luckily, I had my camera with me and was able to capture this incredible behavior.
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are aerial acrobats. They can snatch insects right out of the air, but they also employ another clever hunting technique: hovering. As you can see in my photo, the flycatcher suspends itself in mid-air, typically close to vegetation. This hovering position gives them a perfect vantage point to scan for flying insects and then snatch them up with lightning speed.
Being able to hover allows these birds to be incredibly efficient hunters, especially in areas with tall grasses or other obstacles that might make chasing insects on the ground difficult. It’s a truly remarkable adaptation that makes the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher a captivating sight to behold.
Next time you’re out birdwatching, keep an eye out for these scissor-tailed marvels. You might just be lucky enough to witness their impressive hovering skills!