Scissor-tailed Flycatcher With a Wasp at Sequoyah

A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher always gets my attention. This one made the scene even better by posing with a large wasp in its beak.

I photographed it at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma on a July morning.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher With Wasp at Sequoyah

This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher had caught a large wasp. I could not identify the wasp species, but it was a good-sized meal for the bird.

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are known for catching insects. They often take prey in the air, which makes them fun birds to watch.

Their long tail feathers also make them easy to recognize. When spread, the tail has the scissor-like shape that gives the bird its name.

This bird was photographed on July 22, 2023, at 8:53 a.m. The setting was Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

Watching a Flycatcher Handle Large Insect Prey

Wasps can be risky prey. They can sting, and this one looked like a serious catch.

The flycatcher did not seem bothered by it. Its bill held the wasp firmly, and the bird looked calm with its meal.

I have photographed these birds with other insects too. One had a cricket in its beak at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith, Arkansas, which I shared in my post about a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and its cricket feast.

I also photographed a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher eating a butterfly at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.

Each insect catch tells a little more about how active and skilled these birds are.

Photographing This Oklahoma Bird Encounter

For this photo, I used a long lens and stayed focused on the bird after it landed with the wasp. These birds move fast, so I was glad to catch a still moment.

I keep hoping to photograph one catching an insect in mid-flight. A shot like that, with the long tail fanned out, would make a great action image.

For now, I am happy with this view of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher showing off a hard-earned meal.

Camera and settings:

• Camera: Canon EOS R7
• Lens: Canon RF 800
• Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
• Date and time: July 22, 2023, 8:53 a.m.
• Exposure mode: Manual
• Aperture: f/11
• Shutter speed: 1/1600
• ISO: 2000, Auto
• Exposure compensation: 0
• Focal length: 800 mm