Fork-tailed Flycatcher

We see this bird at the reserve in early summer and in fact it breeds here.  It migrates north in the Argentine winter.

It is a stunning bird of 38cm in length which includes a very long tail.  Head and tail are black, underparts bright white, back and wings grey.  It rainy conditions one can sometimes see a yellow crown.  When hunting it uses its tail as a brake and is often seen looking like a pair of scissors.  Its name in Argenitina is Tijerita which means little scissors.

The female is similar but has a shorter tail.