October 2017

The fall migration is on the decline now with most of our flycatchers, swallows and warblers gone for the next seven months. All of these birds depend on insects for their sustenance, a resource in short supply now.

Sparrows and other seed-eaters have a more leisurely migration. They can find seeds, at least until the first snows arrive. Even so, by the end of the month most of our sparrows will be gone to more moderate southern areas.

As I discussed in the last column, we know that the majority of migratory bird species have an innate knowledge of where they should go to spend the winter. It boggles the mind to realize that many first-year birds find their way unaided by adults to their wintering habitat they have never seen. Travel instructions are encoded in their genes.

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Fall migration always has some surprises in store. One of the most delightful vagrants this fall was a Fork-tailed Flycatcher. This species normally occurs from Mexico all the way south to Argentina. A few vagrants occur along the eastern seaboard every year, usually between September and November.

The Maine bird was found at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth on September 16 by a local birder, Angus King. The electronic word got out and dozens of birders got to see the impressive bird. Alas, it was last seen on September 19.

Fork-tailed Flycatchers are white underneath with a gray back and a bold, black cap. The hallmark of the species is the fantastic tail. The outer tail feathers are ridiculously elongated. In flight, the tail feathers spread to make the distinctive fork. The tail of a Fork-tailed Flycatcher is like the tail of a Barn Swallow on steroids!  Relative to body size, the tail of a Fork-tailed Flycatcher is the longest of any bird, two to three times the body length. Females and young birds have less ostentatious forked tails.

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