New Brunswick · Summer breeder

Great Crested Flycatchers in New Brunswick

When great crested flycatchers are present in New Brunswick, when they nest, which native New Brunswick plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 3a–5b yard.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus

Status in New Brunswick: Summer breeder
Nesting window: June–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 3a–5b
Nest box: 1 3/4 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 8–20 ft

When to expect great crested flycatchers in New Brunswick

Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents in New Brunswick, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, moths and katydids.

Humid continental with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.

Nesting in New Brunswick

Across New Brunswick, 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.

Mild summers.

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 New Brunswick plants that attract great crested flycatchers

Of the regional native plants we track for New Brunswick, these 8 provide food or cover great crested flycatchers use:

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

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

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

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.

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Feeding great crested flycatchers through the New Brunswick year

The only eastern flycatcher that nests in cavities — often in boxes, famously lined with shed snakeskin.

Best foods: .
In New Brunswick's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for great crested flycatchers

Frequently asked

Are great crested flycatchers in New Brunswick year-round?

No. Great Crested Flycatchers are summer breeders in New Brunswick and leave for the winter.

When do great crested flycatchers nest in New Brunswick?

Nesting in New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick?

Serviceberry, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine are native plants in New Brunswick 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.

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.