Question, birds with scissor like tails?

Guest · Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:30 am

Last night and this morning I noticed fast flying birds that appear to be somewhat smaller than Martins buzzing my small colony of house and gourds. Several of the male Martins would take of chasing them when they would do their fly-by right over the colony. What would these birds with scissor like tails most likely be?

Bud

Glen Webb Jr · Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:34 am

Barn swallows maybe? They have very long, scissor like tails. Swifts have the characteristic 'cigar on wings' shape. Some people actually mistake them for bats.

Guest · Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:35 am

Hey Bud,
Most likely they are Sissor-tailed Flycatchers. There gray bodied with a tail about 10-12" long. I don't think they are cavity nesters, but looking for a place to sit. When they start doing their "mating dance", the male will fly straight up, making all kinds of noise, with his tail feathers spread apart. I noticed them around here about 5 weeks ago.

Chuck

RC Moser · Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:47 am

barnswallows are easily identified by the brown patch on there chest, coal black backs and the V Slot in their tails. IMO you can't mistake a Sissor tailed Flycather due to the tail is longer than the body of the bird.

Guest · Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:18 am

I bet you've got barn swallows. I had a few out flying with my PMs yesterday at dusk. I don't think the barn swallows are interested in the housing, but the PMs and barn swallows do share the same food and water sources. That's why I see them together sometimes. Also, last year I saw barn swallows coming into my back yard to gather mud even though they live under a nearby bridge above a creek. That my also be the case at your house.

Guest · Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:22 am

Hey, Bud, I just noticed you and I are living in the same neck of the woods. Now I'm pretty sure you are seeing barn swallows; especially if you have a creek nearby. We have scissor tails too, but they tend to like open fields, and though beautiful, they really don't look similar to PMs at all.

Guest · Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:22 pm

Shelley and others,

Thanks for the info..I think they are barn swallows based on what Shelley says and the picture. Shelley, yes I live west of you near Legacy and Independence. We have a lot of Martin houses in this part of Plano. Also, plenty of areas where Barn Swallows could be nesting.

Bud

klcretired · Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:18 pm

Bud,
Here are a couple of pic's of a Texas Scissor tail, kinda looks like a Mockingbird w/ a Long Scissor Tail to me.so when you said scissor tail this is what i thought of:

Guest · Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:33 pm

Bud, yep, you're probably only 5 to 10 minutes away from me. I'm at Hedgecoxe and Alma. Sounds like you are close to the Davis Library. I've seen tons of PMs over in that area. Too cool for school!

Kenny, the scissor tails were my favorite birds growing up. I love the pink under their wings. Hey, I also thought of you yesterday b/c while I was out trying to read the band, I saw 2 hummingbirds chasing each other. This time of year they mainly stay in the woods around my house, so that was a nice little treat. I made sure my feeders had fresh sugar solution just in case.

Shelley

Guest · Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:51 pm

K.C....thanks for the pics. After looking at Shelley's barn swallow pic and your scissor tail pics, they were definitely barn swallows as their tails were v-shaped, but short likd barn swallows.

Bud

klcretired · Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:57 pm

Bud ,
Just glad you got it sorted out....there's nothing worse than not being able to figure something out or get any help on a subject.
Martin On!!!!!!!!