Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Breeding Location:

Forests, coniferous, Forest edge, Grassland with scattered trees, Desert, Desert, semi

Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester

Breeding Population:

Fairly common

Egg Color:

White to buff with brown and lavender blotches.

Number of Eggs:

3 - 6

Incubation Days:

13 - 15

Egg Incubator:

Female

Nest Material:

Lined with plant fibers, animal hair, feathers, and often adds snakeskin.

Migration:

Migratory

Overview

Brown-crested Flycatcher: Medium-sized flycatcher with olive-brown upperparts, yellow underparts, and pale gray throat. Bill is long, stout, and solid black. Wings have rufous patches. Tail is long and rufous. Legs and feet are black. Direct flight with rapid wing beats. Hovers and dips for prey.

Range and Habitat

Brown-crested Flycatcher: Breeds from southern California, southern Nevada, central Arizona, and southern Texas southward. Spends winters mainly south of the U.S.-Mexico border; few winter in southern Florida. Preferred habitats include arid lands in areas with cacti or large trees.

Breeding and Nesting

Brown-crested Flycatcher: Three to six white to buff eggs with brown and lavender blotches are laid in a nest lined with feathers, fibers, and hairs, and built in a tree cavity, cactus, or on a fence post. Incubation ranges from 13 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Brown-crested Flycatcher: Feeds on insects, berries, and other fruits; has been observed eating hummingbirds.

Readily Eats

Meal Worms

Vocalization

Brown-crested Flycatcher: Song is a "come HERE, come HERE", a sharp "wit", or "way-burg".

Similar Species

Brown-crested Flycatcher: Great Crested has darker gray throat and breast and rust-brown tail. Ash-throated has paler yellow underparts and rust-brown tail.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Brown-crested Flycatcher

● Song: "come HERE- come HERE", " whit-will-do, whit-will-do", "wit"

● Foraging & Feeding: Brown-crested Flycatcher: Feeds on insects, berries, and other fruits; has been observed eating hummingbirds.

● Breeding & nesting: Brown-crested Flycatcher: Three to six white to buff eggs with brown and lavender blotches are laid in a nest lined with feathers, fibers, and hairs, and built in a tree cavity, cactus, or on a fence post. Incubation ranges from 13 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Brown-crested Flycatcher: Great Crested has darker gray throat and breast and rust-brown tail. Ash-throated has paler yellow underparts and rust-brown tail.

Flight Pattern

Buoyant flight with steady fast wing beats.

Brown-crested Flycatcher Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Brown-crested Flycatcher: Breeds from southern California, southern Nevada, central Arizona, and southern Texas southward. Spends winters mainly south of the U.S.-Mexico border; few winter in southern Florida. Preferred habitats include arid lands in areas with cacti or large trees.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationFairly common

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight1.5 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America