Wyoming · Summer breeder

Ash-throated Flycatchers in Wyoming

When ash-throated flycatchers are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Ash-throated FlycatcherMyiarchus cinerascens

Status in Wyoming: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–5b
Nest box: 1 1/2 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 5–20 ft

When to expect ash-throated flycatchers in Wyoming

Ash-throated Flycatchers are summer residents in Wyoming, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent.

Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.

Nesting in Wyoming

Across Wyoming, ash-throated flycatchers typically nest from May–July. Plan around that window: April for setup, July for clean-out.

Short, warm summers with cool nights.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — ash-throated flycatchers begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 1 1/2 in entrance on a 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 5–20 ft.
Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
Clean out old nests after each brood and again after July.

Native Wyoming plants that attract ash-throated flycatchers

Of the regional native plants we track for Wyoming, these 8 provide food or cover ash-throated flycatchers use:

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood

Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Common hackberry

Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Feeding ash-throated flycatchers through the Wyoming year

Top foods: None — a nest box in dry scrub is the draw.
In Wyoming's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for ash-throated flycatchers · Best feeder for ash-throated flycatchers

Frequently asked

Are ash-throated flycatchers in Wyoming year-round?

No. Ash-throated Flycatchers are summer breeders in Wyoming and leave for the winter.

When do ash-throated flycatchers nest in Wyoming?

Nesting in Wyoming typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 15 days.

What native plants attract ash-throated flycatchers in Wyoming?

Smooth sumac, Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for ash-throated flycatchers.

What size birdhouse hole do ash-throated flycatchers need?

1 1/2 in, with a floor of 6 × 6 in mounted 5–20 ft.

Ash-throated Flycatchers in other regions

Arizona California Colorado Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Oregon Texas Utah Washington

Other backyard birds in Wyoming

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.