What is the state bird of Oklahoma?
The state of Oklahoma legislature adopted the scissor-tailed flycatcher as the state bird on May 26, 1951. Oklahoma does not share the scissor-tailed flycatcher as a state bird with any other state. What does the state bird of Oklahoma look like?
What is a scissor-tailed flycatcher?
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher, Muscivora forficata, is a somewhat quiet bird with beautiful plumage and a long sleek tail that is twice as long as its body. The deeply-forked tail resembles a pair of scissors.
What kind of bird has a well Scissor Tail?
Well-scissortail, Texas bird-of-paradise and swallowtailed flycatcher. Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher, Muscivora forficata, is a somewhat quiet bird with beautiful plumage and a long sleek tail that is twice as long as its body.
What do scissor-tailed flycatchers eat?
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are acrobatic foragers; birds often dart from their perches into the air in pursuit of flying insects such as bees and wasps, or drop to the ground to capture grasshoppers and spiders in the grass.
What is Oklahoma state bird?
Scissor-tailed flycatcherOklahoma / State birdUnder House Joint Resolution Number 21, signed into law on May 26, 1951, the scissor-tailed flycatcher (earlier called Muscivora forficata, now called Tyrannus forficatus) became Oklahoma's state bird.
How did Oklahoma get its state bird?
Oklahoma designated its state bird as the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in 1951 under House Joint Resolution Number 21. The scissortail was eventually chosen for its diet of harmful insects like wasps.
What is unusual about the state bird of Oklahoma?
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Facts Protected by law, the scissor-tailed flycatcher is of great economic value; its diet consists almost entirely of non-useful and harmful insect species such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. This songbird's unique scissor-like tail can be twice as long as its body.
What is the scissor-tailed flycatcher known for?
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers perch conspicuously on utility lines, treetops, and fence lines to watch for insect prey and defend their territories from interlopers. They are agile in the air, spreading their long tails wide to make abrupt turns and stalls.
What is Oklahoma state animal?
The American buffaloThe American buffalo was adopted as the state animal in 1972.
What is Oklahoma's nickname?
Sooner StateOklahoma / Nickname
What is Oklahoma famous?
Oklahoma is famous for its booming agriculture and energy industries and Native American heritage. Oklahoma is also known for college sports, country music and the iconic Route 66, which passed through the state in its heyday.
What bird is on the Oklahoma license plate?
scissortail flycatcherMary Fallin in 2016 unveiled the state's most recent license plate that features the outline of the state bird - a scissortail flycatcher - on a light blue background. Oklahoma motorists had to pay an additional $5 to replace their license plates.
What is Oklahoma state motto?
Labor omnia vincitOklahoma / MottoLabor omnia vincit or Labor omnia vincit improbus is a Latin phrase meaning "Work conquers all". The phrase is adapted from Virgil's Georgics, Book I, lines 145–6: ...Labor omnia vicit / improbus. Wikipedia
Is the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher rare?
According to the list serves, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is in the Arroyo Grande Creek area of San Louis Obispo County. This beauty is normally found in Texas and other parts of south central United States.
What is the official state bird of Texas?
Northern mockingbirdTexas / State birdThe northern mockingbird is a mockingbird commonly found in North America. This bird is mainly a permanent resident, but northern birds may move south during harsh weather. This species has rarely been observed in Europe. Wikipedia
Where can scissor-tailed flycatchers be found?
Find It. The migratory scissor-tailed flycatcher breeds from extreme northeastern Mexico (generally within a short distance of the Texas border) north through southeastern New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, extreme southeastern Colorado, most of Kansas, western Missouri, Arkansas, and much of western and northern Louisiana.
What is an interesting fact about Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has the largest Native American population of any state in the U.S. 11. The name 'Oklahoma' comes from two Choctaw words – okla meaning "people" and humma meaning "red." So the name means, "Red People." The name was approved in 1890. 12.
What are some fun facts about Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is the nation's 20th largest state, and it covers 69,903 square miles. Cimarron County is the only county in the U.S. that touches four states: Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Kansas. Oklahoma has parts of four mountain ranges: Ouachitas, Arbuckles, Wichitas and the Ozarks.
What is Oklahoma's official state meal?
The official state meal of Oklahoma consists of fried okra, cornbread, barbecue pork, squash, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries (state fruit), chicken fried steak, pecan pie, and black-eyed peas.
Are scissor tailed flycatchers endangered?
Least Concern (Population decreasing)Scissor-tailed flycatcher / Conservation status
Where do scissor tail flycatchers spend their winters?
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are considered Neotropical migrants – birds that spend their winters in Central and South America, returning to North America to nest and raise young.
How long is a scissor tail flycatcher?
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are easily identified by their long, scissor-like tail, which may reach nine inches in length. During flight, the bird opens and shuts its tail like a pair of scissors and folds or closes the “scissors” when perching. Since the bird is only 11-15 inches long, its tail is proportionately longer than any other Oklahoma bird.
What do scissor tail flycatchers eat?
Scissor-tailed flycatchers are acrobatic foragers; birds often dart from their perches into the air in pursuit of flying insects such as bees and wasps, or drop to the ground to capture grasshoppers and spiders in the grass. They consume a greater proportion of grasshoppers, crickets and other ground-dwelling insects than any other Oklahoma ...
How many eggs do songbirds lay?
She lays four to six eggs , often raising two broods during the summer. Eggs are cream-white with some spots and brown blotches.
How long do scissortails stay in their nest?
Young scissortails remain in their parents’ territory for an additional two to three weeks after leaving the nest, when they learn to hunt for food.
Why are female birds shorter than males?
Females usually are shorter than males because her tail is not as long. Immature birds resemble adults, but their tail is shorter and only slightly forked.
Where do scissortails live?
Habitat: In Oklahoma, scissortails often are seen in open prairies dotted with trees and along tree-lined country roads. They also appear in open country around ranches and even small towns, where they perch on telephone lines, flagpoles and fences. In rural areas, the birds will perch for hours along roadsides on fences, limbs and isolated trees. ...
What is a scissor tail flycatcher?
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher, Muscivora forficata, is a somewhat quiet bird with beautiful plumage and a long sleek tail that is twice as long as its body. The deeply-forked tail resembles a pair of scissors.
What is the official state bird of Oklahoma?
WHEREAS, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, in appearance and habits commands both respect and admiration; and. WHEREAS, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher has been endorsed as the official State Bird of Oklahoma by many ornithologists and biologists of the various colleges and universities of the State of Oklahoma, by societies devoted to ...
What bird is known for its long tail?
From its long tail to its famous "sky dance," no other Oklahoma bird is more striking and identifiable than the scissor-tailed flycatcher , (Muscivora forficata .)
What is the bird of paradise in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma State Bird: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The scissor-tailed flycatcher is known by other names as well-scissortail, Texas bird-of-paradise and swallowtailed flycatcher. It is obvious how the bird acquired its common names, but its former Latin name-Muscivora forficata-describes the bird in even grander terms.
What is the state bird code for Oklahoma?
The law designating the scissor-tailed flycatcher as the official Oklahoma state bird is Section 25.98 of the Oklahoma Statutes, Title 25 (Definitions and General Provisions) Chapter 3 (State Emblems and Honorary Positions) Section 25-98 .
When is Bird Day in Oklahoma?
May 1st of each year is hereby established as "Bird Day" in Oklahoma, to be commemorated in such manner as the Societies for the Preservation of Wildlife may prescribe, from time to time. Approved May 26, 1951. Emergency. [SECTION 1. codified in the Oklahoma Statutes in Title 25, Section 98.]
State Bird of Oklahoma
Oklahoma designated its state bird as the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in 1951 under House Joint Resolution Number 21. The scissortail was eventually chosen for its diet of harmful insects like wasps. In fact, they pretty much only eat insects.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Oklahoma designated its state bird as the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in 1951 under House Joint Resolution Number 21. The scissortail was eventually chosen for its diet of harmful insects like wasps. In fact, they pretty much only eat insects.
