Well, the rain has driven me to looking at some more bird books, and I
would like to present a rare (for me) amount of typing, from an account by
Herbert Brandt (1940), as presented in the classic A.C. Bent collection of
materials from the National Museum (which I think is another or older name
for the Smithsonian Institution?), here, Bulletin number 179, first
published January, 1942. All typos mine, of course.

This in the courtship portion of the account for Scissor-tailed Flycatcher,
Muscivora forficata (p. 83).

" During his courting days and even until the eggs are hatched, the male
engages in one of the most fantastic of feathered sky-dances. Mounting the
air to a height of perhaps a hundred feet, he starts his routine by
plunging nearly the previous height; and he repeats this up and down zigzag
course several times, emitting meanwhile a rolling, cackling sound like
rapid, high-pitched hand-clapping. This he seems to produce by loud
snapping of the mandibles, or it may be a vocal effort, or both, though I
observed it to be the former. The last upward flight may take him still
higher, and his path then becomes a vertical line. When the flycatcher
reaches the zenith of this flight, so vivacious is his ardor that over he
topples backward, making two or three consecutive reverse somersaults,
descending like a Tumbler Pigeon, all the while displaying to his mate the
soft, effective, under-wing colors.

"This active display is remarkably emphasized by the long, flowing tail
that becomes an expressive banner of showmanship, and it is then that one
realizes its nuptial significance. That dual appendage, the like of which
is possessed by no other North American bird, adds to every movement the
smooth effortless rhythm of superb body grace; and consequently the aerial
ballet of the Scissor-tail is incomparable in flowing, graceful action and
flirtatious courtship interpretation."
= = = =
Alan Richards / Naselle WA 98638 / USA