The Great, Great Crested Flycatcher

On a routine golf course inspection this morning, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a bird peeking out of a previously unoccupied Screech Owl nesting box. With all but two of this years Screech Owl hatchlings fledged and moved away, I was curious who was inside the box. As I approached a Great Crested Flycatcher flew away. Upon inspection inside the box my identification was confirmed by the very unique nest inside. 

The Great Crested Flycatcher is easily identifiable by the unique nest construction and the eggs. Our ornithologist, Brain Beckner, Founder of Native Bird Boxes, Inc, had shown me a nest a few years ago. A very interesting aspect of the nest is that it usually includes a piece of snake skin lining. The snake skin lining is brought into the nest by the flycatcher as a natural predatory defense mechanism. 

A Great Crested Flycatcher nest at Olde Florida 

Both sexes help build the nest. They carry in large amounts of material, to bring the nests level close to the entrance.  The flycatcher nest seen in the picture was constructed on top of previously placed nesting material placed in the box by Beckner to encourage nesting by a Screech Owl. The flycatcher nest is made of grass, weeds, strips of bark, feathers, or other debris, lined with finer materials such as pine needles. 

The Great Crested Flycatcher usually lays five eggs that are creamy white and marked with brown, olive, lavender. Incubation is by female (13-15 days), but both parents bring food for nestlings. The age of the young at first flight is about 12-18 days. The male defends nesting territory with loud calls, sometimes by fighting with other males. Nest sites are usually in the hole of a tree, either natural cavity or old woodpecker hole, but the flycatcher will also nest in artificial sites. 

 
The species is known to forage by flying out from a perch to catch insects. They often hover momentarily while taking insects from foliage or twigs, or may catch them in mid-air. 

To see, and hear a Great Crested Flycatcher you can click this Link.

Screech Owl Box, 14 Green