Fork-tailed Flycatcher ( Tyrannus savana )

The male is 38 to 40 cm in length and the female 28 to 30 cm, 29cm of the male’s length and 19 of the female’s are the long forked tail. The upper parts are bluish grey and the ventral part white. The top of the head is black. The young individuals have smaller tails.
Distribution:
East of U.S.A to Argentina.
Habitat:
Fields with sparse trees, open areas and even in cities.
Diet:
Mainly flying insects but also fruits.
Reproduction:
It is territorial during the breeding season. The male may visit other territories while the female stays in the nest. The nest is made of sparse sticks and is often blown with the wind. It is built 1 to 10m from the ground. Lays 3 to 5 buffy eggs with darks spots. The offspring follow the parents up to a certain age.
Natural history:
Makes impressing maneuvers in the air when hunting or during fights. It opens the forked tail resembing the blades of a pair o scissors. Because of this it is called “tesoura” in Portuguese what means scissors. In Brazil it spends the summer in the South and migrates northwards in the winter, up to the Amazon. May attack any potential predator that comes close to the nest, even vultures.