Great Crested Flycatchers in Minnesota
When great crested flycatchers are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
- Nest box
- 1 3/4 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 8–20 ft
When to expect great crested flycatchers in Minnesota
Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents in Minnesota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, moths and katydids.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, great crested flycatchers typically nest from June–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.
A short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before May — 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 Minnesota plants that attract great crested flycatchers
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover great crested flycatchers use:
Acorns and bark insects.
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.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding great crested flycatchers through the Minnesota year
The only eastern flycatcher that nests in cavities — often in boxes, famously lined with shed snakeskin.
- Best foods: .
- In Minnesota's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are great crested flycatchers in Minnesota year-round?
No. Great Crested Flycatchers are summer breeders in Minnesota and leave for the winter.
When do great crested flycatchers nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–8 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days.
What native plants attract great crested flycatchers in Minnesota?
Bur oak, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Minnesota 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 Minnesota
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 — Minnesota
- 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.