Vermont · Summer breeder

Great Crested Flycatchers in Vermont

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

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus

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

When to expect great crested flycatchers in Vermont

Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents in Vermont, 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 the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley.

Nesting in Vermont

Across Vermont, 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.

Short, 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 Vermont plants that attract great crested flycatchers

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

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

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

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

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.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Feeding great crested flycatchers through the Vermont year

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

Best foods: .
In Vermont'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 Vermont year-round?

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

When do great crested flycatchers nest in Vermont?

Nesting in Vermont 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 Vermont?

Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Vermont 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.