The Story
I photographed this Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) at Reserva Natural El Encanto de Guanapalo in Casanare, Colombia. Most are migratory, though some stay all year. Its breeding range runs from central Mexico to central Argentina. Migratory birds tend to have more pointed wings than those that stay put. It is often seen on open perches, from which it sallies after insects. El Encanto de Guanapalo brings together three ranches, Mata de Palma, Altamira and Montana, in a reserve of almost 9,000 hectares of flooded savanna and gallery forest in San Luis de Palenque. IUCN lists the Fork-tailed Flycatcher as Least Concern, with a stable population.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/1600 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100. El Encanto de Guanapalo pays for its conservation through traditional cattle ranching, ecotourism and carbon credits, using the Cataruben Foundation’s Co2Bio model.
©2019 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) belongs to the family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2025), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List