Great Crested Flycatchers in West Virginia
When great crested flycatchers are present in West Virginia, when they nest, which native West Virginia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in West Virginia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
- Nest box
- 1 3/4 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 8–20 ft
When to expect great crested flycatchers in West Virginia
Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents in West Virginia, 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 Appalachian state with high ridges and deep river valleys.
Nesting in West Virginia
Across West Virginia, 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, humid summers; high ridges host northern breeders.
- 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 West Virginia plants that attract great crested flycatchers
Of the regional native plants we track for West Virginia, 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.
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 West Virginia year
The only eastern flycatcher that nests in cavities — often in boxes, famously lined with shed snakeskin.
- Best foods: .
- In West Virginia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are great crested flycatchers in West Virginia year-round?
No. Great Crested Flycatchers are summer breeders in West Virginia and leave for the winter.
When do great crested flycatchers nest in West Virginia?
Nesting in West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in West Virginia 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 West Virginia
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 — West Virginia
- 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.