I spotted this Scissor-tailed Flycatcher while driving through the Sandtown area of the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The bird was perched on a dried plant stalk along the asphalt section of the auto tour road.
Wildlife Notes for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are the state bird of Oklahoma. They usually arrive in the region during mid-April. This sighting happened right on schedule during the spring migration.
These birds are easy to identify. They have extremely long, forked tails that look like a pair of scissors. You will often see them perched on fences, power lines, or tall weeds. They sit in these open spots to watch for insects. When they see a bug, they dart out into the air to catch it.
Photography Notes from the Field
I was driving my pickup truck when I saw this bird. I often use my truck as a mobile blind. This allows me to get much closer to wildlife without scaring them away.
I had my camera and lens resting on a bean bag. I draped the bag over the open window of my truck. This setup provides great stability for long lenses. It also helps me react quickly when a bird lands nearby.
For this shot, I used a Fujifilm X-T3 with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II lens. I used a Fringer EF-FX Pro adapter to connect the two. My settings were f/5.6 at 1/2200 second with an ISO of 1600. I used back-button focus to keep the bird sharp.
Closing Thoughts
Seeing the first Scissor-tails of the year is always a treat. They add so much character to the Oklahoma landscape. I look forward to seeing more of them as the season continues.
If you enjoyed this shot, you might also like my post about a Hovering Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.