Great Crested Flycatcher

An Outstanding Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher

 The Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) is our most outstanding flycatcher.  It is large, colourful and noisy.  It is noticed even by non-birders.  Many times I have been asked by people who don't normally notice birds, 'What is that bird?'

The Great Crested Flycatcher is about 20 cm (8 in) long and is noticeably colourful.  It is gray and brown on the head and throat, bright yellow on the belly which comes up onto the breast, and has dark wing feathers with contrasting white edges, and a rufous tail with lighter edges.  The bird spends its time in the canopy of mature deciduous trees where it often sits up high on an exposed perch.  From there it flies out into the air or onto the ground to catch insects, its main diet.  It is very vocal, making an ascending whee-eep or a purr-it.  It is our largest and most spectacular flycatcher.

Great Crested Flycatcher

The Great Crested Flycatcher is our only flycatcher which nests in tree cavities or occasionally in nest boxes.  There it builds a nest from grass, bark strips, rootlets, fur, feathers, plastic debris and often snake skins.  Four to 8 white buff eggs with brown, olive, or lavender spots are laid.  It is not known why they often adorn their nests with snake skins, possibly to scare away predators.

I am always happy to see this species return in the spring.  They breed here in our hardwood trees. Their breeding range includes south-central and southeastern Canada southward through the eastern US.  They are permanent residents of southern Florida.  They winter in Mexico, the West Indies, Colombia and Venezuela.  Being late September here, they have left now for their winter homes.  We will miss them.

Great Crested Flycatcher