Great Crested Flycatchers in Florida
When great crested flycatchers are present in Florida, when they nest, which native Florida plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 8a–11b yard.
- Status in Florida
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 8a–11b
- Nest box
- 1 3/4 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 8–20 ft
When to expect great crested flycatchers in Florida
Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents in Florida, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, moths and katydids.
Humid subtropical in the north to tropical in the Keys; a wet summer and a dry winter season.
Nesting in Florida
Across Florida, great crested flycatchers typically nest from April–July. Nest site: tree cavity or nest box. Females lay 4–8 eggs, incubate for 13–15 days, and young leave the nest after 13–21 days.
Heat, humidity and summer storms: boxes need drainage holes, ventilation and shade, and nectar spoils fast.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — great crested flycatchers begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 3/4 in entrance on a 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 8–20 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 Florida plants that attract great crested flycatchers
Of the regional native plants we track for Florida, these 8 provide food or cover great crested flycatchers use:
Acorns and insect-rich bark.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Feeding great crested flycatchers through the Florida year
The only eastern flycatcher that nests in cavities — often in boxes, famously lined with shed snakeskin.
- Best foods: .
- In Florida's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are great crested flycatchers in Florida year-round?
No. Great Crested Flycatchers are summer breeders in Florida and leave for the winter.
When do great crested flycatchers nest in Florida?
Nesting in Florida typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–8 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days.
What native plants attract great crested flycatchers in Florida?
Southern live oak, Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush are native plants in Florida that provide food or cover for great crested flycatchers.
What size birdhouse hole do great crested flycatchers need?
1 3/4 in, with a floor of 6 × 6 in mounted 8–20 ft.
Great Crested Flycatchers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Florida
Sources
- Great Crested Flycatcher — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Crested Flycatcher life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Crested Flycatcher — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Florida
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.