Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in October
Where scissor-tailed flycatchers are in October, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
October in the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher's year
October brings the year's great turnover. The last long-distance migrants depart, winter visitors arrive from the North, and sparrows flood back into brushy edges and feeder yards. The first hard frosts end the insect season across most of the continent.
For the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher specifically, October is a fall 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 October
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In October, 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 October
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are not nesting in October. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
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 October
- Migrates to Mexico and Central America
Oklahoma's state bird. Perches on wires along rural roads; males sky-dance on spring mornings.
This is the month to get winter feeding stations established — birds are scouting the food sources they'll rely on all winter.
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 October, 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 October?
In October, 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 October?
No — scissor-tailed flycatchers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do scissor-tailed flycatchers eat in October?
Migrates to Mexico and Central America.
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.