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Glite Dictionary
scissortailed flycatcher

scissortailed flycatcher

9.6
A grey bird with a long forked tail and a white breast with pink and red markings
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪsərˌteɪld ˈflaɪˌkætʃər/
  • US
translation icon : cazamoscas de cola ahorquillada
  • The scissortailed flycatcher's long, forked tail makes it easy to identify from a distance.

Examples

  • We spotted a scissortailed flycatcher perched on the fence in Texas.

  • The scissortailed flycatcher is often seen perched on fences.

  • Birdwatchers travel from afar to see the colorful scissortailed flycatcher during migration season.

  • I spotted a scissortailed flycatcher while hiking in Arizona.

  • Birdwatchers travel from afar to see the colorful scissortailed flycatcher during migration season.

  • The scissortailed flycatcher's long, forked tail makes it easy to identify from a distance.

  • We spotted a scissortailed flycatcher perched on the fence in Texas.

Synonyms

flycatcher
vsscissortailed flycatcher
2 7.0

A small bird that catches insects in the air

is the specific regional species with distinctive colours and long tail
Muscivora forficata
vsscissortailed flycatcher
  • Specialized
9.9

A pale gray bird with a long forked tail and pink chest from southern US and Central America

is the common description used instead of the scientific label
scissortail
vsscissortailed flycatcher
  • US
9.9

A thin gray bird with a very long forked tail and a white chest with pink and red marks

focuses more on overall markings and colour than just tail shape
New World flycatcher
vsscissortailed flycatcher
  • US
9.9

A large American bird that catches insects in flight

is the single regional species with unique colour and tail features
tyrant flycatcher
vsscissortailed flycatcher
  • Specialized
9.9

A large American bird that catches insects in flight

is one specific species with distinctive breast colours and forked tail
true flycatcher
vsscissortailed flycatcher
  • Specialized
9.1

A small bird that catches insects while flying

belongs to a different family but shares insect-catching behaviour and perching

Surface Forms

scissortailed flycatcher singular
scissortailed flycatchers plural

Morphology

scissortailed + flycatcher

The noun is compositionally built: 'scissortailed' can be parsed as 'scissor' + 'tailed' meaning 'having a tail like scissors', and 'flycatcher' is a bird that catches flies. This regular descriptive compounding follows standard English patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer it denotes a flycatcher with a scissor-like (forked) tail.

Etymology

Scissortailed flycatcher gets its name from the bird's long, forked tail that looks like open scissors, and flycatcher because it snaps up flying insects. That's why the name describes both its shape and the way it eats.