Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in April
Where scissor-tailed flycatchers are in April, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
April in the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher's year
April is when spring migration hits its stride. Waves of migrants move north on warm southerly winds, wintering birds leave for good, and early nesters are already on eggs in the South. Every week brings species that weren't there the week before.
For the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher specifically, April is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 9 states and provinces where scissor-tailed flycatchers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where scissor-tailed flycatchers are in April
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In April, scissor-tailed flycatchers are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in April
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are not nesting in April. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, starting roughly a month earlier in the South.
Outside the nesting season, scissor-tailed flycatchers put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in April
- Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps
Oklahoma's state bird. Perches on wires along rural roads; males sky-dance on spring mornings.
Migrants arriving after long flights are hungry — feeders can be genuine lifelines during cold, wet spells that suppress insects.
Full Scissor-tailed Flycatcher diet guide → · Best feeder for scissor-tailed flycatchers →
Watching scissor-tailed flycatchers this month
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are settled and predictable in April, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region scissor-tailed flycatchers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher month by month
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher by state
Frequently asked
Where are scissor-tailed flycatchers in April?
In April, scissor-tailed flycatchers are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do scissor-tailed flycatchers nest in April?
No — scissor-tailed flycatchers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do scissor-tailed flycatchers eat in April?
Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps.
Sources
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- 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.