Great Crested Flycatchers in North Carolina
When great crested flycatchers are present in North Carolina, when they nest, which native North Carolina plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–8b yard.
- Status in North Carolina
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–8b
- Nest box
- 1 3/4 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 8–20 ft
When to expect great crested flycatchers in North Carolina
Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents in North Carolina, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, moths and katydids.
Mountains, Piedmont and coastal plain differ sharply — cool, snowy highlands to mild, humid coast.
Nesting in North Carolina
Across North Carolina, 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.
Warm and humid in the Piedmont and coast; cooler at elevation.
- 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 North Carolina plants that attract great crested flycatchers
Of the regional native plants we track for North Carolina, these 8 provide food or cover great crested flycatchers use:
The state flower and a top fall fruit source.
June fruit.
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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding great crested flycatchers through the North Carolina year
The only eastern flycatcher that nests in cavities — often in boxes, famously lined with shed snakeskin.
- Best foods: .
- In North Carolina's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are great crested flycatchers in North Carolina year-round?
No. Great Crested Flycatchers are summer breeders in North Carolina and leave for the winter.
When do great crested flycatchers nest in North Carolina?
Nesting in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in North Carolina 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 North Carolina
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 — North Carolina
- 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.