Great Crested Flycatchers in Illinois
When great crested flycatchers are present in Illinois, when they nest, which native Illinois plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.
- Status in Illinois
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
- Nest box
- 1 3/4 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 8–20 ft
When to expect great crested flycatchers in Illinois
Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents in Illinois, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, moths and katydids.
Humid continental, grading from the Lake Michigan shore and prairie north to the forested Shawnee Hills in the south.
Nesting in Illinois
Across Illinois, great crested flycatchers typically nest from May–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.
Hot, humid summers; much of the state is farmland, so backyard native plantings matter.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — 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 Illinois plants that attract great crested flycatchers
Of the regional native plants we track for Illinois, these 8 provide food or cover great crested flycatchers use:
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.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
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 Illinois year
The only eastern flycatcher that nests in cavities — often in boxes, famously lined with shed snakeskin.
- Best foods: .
- In Illinois's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are great crested flycatchers in Illinois year-round?
No. Great Crested Flycatchers are summer breeders in Illinois and leave for the winter.
When do great crested flycatchers nest in Illinois?
Nesting in Illinois typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–8 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days.
What native plants attract great crested flycatchers in Illinois?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush are native plants in Illinois 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 Illinois
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 — Illinois
- 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.