Diet

What do scissor-tailed flycatchers eat?

Grasshoppers and other large insects taken in the air.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus

Spring and summer diet

  • Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps

Fall and winter diet

  • Migrates to Mexico and Central America

Best feeder foods

  • None — open country and scattered trees are the draw

Oklahoma's state bird. Perches on wires along rural roads; males sky-dance on spring mornings.

Which feeder works best for scissor-tailed flycatchers →

Frequently asked

What do scissor-tailed flycatchers eat?

Grasshoppers and other large insects taken in the air.

What is the best food to feed scissor-tailed flycatchers?

None — open country and scattered trees are the draw.

What do scissor-tailed flycatchers eat in winter?

Migrates to Mexico and Central America.

Sources

  1. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.