Great Crested Flycatcher in December
Where great crested flycatchers are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Great Crested Flycatcher's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Great Crested Flycatcher specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 43 states and provinces where great crested flycatchers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where great crested flycatchers are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, great crested flycatchers are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Great crested flycatchers are not nesting in December. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
That makes December a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in December
- Winters in Central America
The only eastern flycatcher that nests in cavities — often in boxes, famously lined with shed snakeskin.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Watching great crested flycatchers this month
Great crested flycatchers are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a Great Crested Flycatcher box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Great Crested Flycatcher month by month
Great Crested Flycatcher by state
Frequently asked
Where are great crested flycatchers in December?
In December, great crested flycatchers are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do great crested flycatchers nest in December?
No — great crested flycatchers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do great crested flycatchers eat in December?
Winters in Central America.
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
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.