Great Crested Flycatcher    Myiarchus crinitus

Migratory Status: Neotropical migrant

PIF Population Estimate: 7 500 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: <25%

BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 106.65

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 200

Canadian BBS Population trend: -1.1 (-1.9 to -0.2)

Life History

The Great Crested Flycatcher is the most common and widespread species in the large, mostly tropical genus Myiarchus. Amongst North American flycatchers, this species has a much larger and stockier appearance and is distinct throughout much of its range. In most plumages, it can be easily distinguished from other species within its genus based on its bright yellow underparts, extensive rufous tail, and pale markings at the base of its bill. The often heard “whee-eep” call is diagnostic.

In Canada, the Great Crested Flycatcher occurs throughout much of the southern portion of the boreal forest, from east-central Alberta, east to the Maritimes. It is also a common breeding species throughout most of the transition forest of the Great Lakes Region. In North America, the species occurs in nearly all forested regions east of the hundredth meridian (i.e., longitude that separates much of Western Canada from the Central and Atlantic regions). The wintering range includes portions of southern Florida, but the majority of birds occur coastally from southern Mexico to northwestern South America.

The Great Crested Flycatcher employs a number of different aerial foraging strategies to secure its prey. Most prey is captured by using a “perch-and-pounce” strategy, by hover-gleaning, or by hawking winged insects in flight. Although a small proportion of their diet comes from plant material, the majority comes from insects, including the orders Lepidoptera (i.e., butterflies and moths), Coleoptera (i.e., beetles), and Orthoptera (i.e., dragonflies and crickets).

Reference(s)

Lanyon, W. E. 1997. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), The Birds of North America, No. 300. A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists's Union, Washington, D.C.