We had a new bird visit our yard last week. I’m grateful this Brown-crested Flycatcher stopped by because I had run out of birds for Bird of the Week.
Scientific Name: Myiarchus tyrannulus
SIZE:
8 to 9 inches (21 to 23 cm) long, with a wingspan of 12 to 13 inches (30 to 33 cm). It weighs roughly 1.1 to 1.6 ounces (32 to 45 grams).
RANGE:
Brown-crested Flycatchers are large flycatchers who range from southwestern United States to Argentina. They are migratory birds.
NESTING:
Brown-crested Flycatchers nest in woodpeckers’ holes in Saguaro and Organ Pipe cactus. They choose the former nests of larger woodpeckers like the Gilded Flickers and Gila Woodpeckers, which are common where we live. Smaller species such as the Ladder-backed Woodpeckers have nests with too small of holes for the flycatcher. They will also use woodpecker holes in forests, brush and along streams and in large suburban trees.
The male and female flycatchers stay together for a season only, but often return to the same nesting area and may even use the same woodpecker hole again. They line their nests with fur of rabbits, rats, opossums, badgers, horses, and cattle, as well as feathers from ravens, nighthawks, White-winged Doves and chickens. They also have been known to use snake and lizard skins.
FOOD:
Their primary diet is insects including large ones like cicadas, beetles and grasshoppers. They also fly and catch flying insects such as butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, and dragonflies. Other bugs they eat include caterpillars, spiders, ants and termites. Their diet includes berries and wild fruits.
They catch flying insects mid air as they fly or forage for insects as they perch on trees and plants.
CALLS:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-crested_Flycatcher/sounds
Great photo and so lucky to have a new bird drop in. Love the hair do 😁 I’d play their call but its almost 10:30pm and all the birds here are asleep
Glad you enjoyed this bird. I was going to drop out of the Bird of the Week Challenge until this guy stopped by.
Cool bird! I’m glad that you have a new bird, Elizabeth. 😊
Thanks! I’m happy to have a new bird, too!
Lucky you EA!
Thanks! Yay. I was so happy to get a new bird. Also Red finally stopped by after being absent for eight days after our vacation.
Was he sending you a message? 😉
Yes. I was really getting worried. When we go to the beach, I’m going to have my neighbor who watches our house make sure the bird feeder is full!
Great plan!
Yes, I bought five bird seed blocks. We’re gone for a couple weeks, so there will be two blocks a week and extra if needed. Mrs. made her appearance today. I’m so relieved to see both of them.
Lovely photos! We have some really neat flycatchers locally, and hope some pay you a visit.
Thanks! It was so special to get this flycatcher to stop by and pay a visit.
Love the flycatcher’s pompadour! How do you identify the new birds? Do you have a trusted reference?
I use an app called Merlin that identifies birds by their calls. Then I use a website called All About Birds that uses photos and descriptions. There were two types of flycatchers common to our area, so I used Merlin and All About Birds to identify this one.
A new bird for me. Thanks for sharing Elizabeth
It was a new bird for me too!
A cute bird too
👍🏼
how beautiful
Thanks!
What a cutie! Looks a bit like a little brown stellars jay. My kitty really perks up when I play the bird calls!😻
Thanks! That’s fun that your kitty likes the bird calls.
He’s a cutie!
I agree!
I wonder what the woodpeckers think of these squatters. I mean, it’s really unfair. Without a lease agreement, you really shouldn’t be going around living in other people’s houses.
Ha! Maybe the woodpeckers like home construction more than living in the same old place.
Well, they’re not very smart if they’re not renting out their old place. That’s an opportunity loss.
Maybe that’s why they are called bird brains.
😄
😅
Looks a lot like Red without the, well…, the red color. I guess it’s the pompadour haircut! Ha ha.
I agree. It is the pompadour. Red disappeared for eight days after we visited the kids. I was desperate. I put out Red’s favorite peanuts, and I’d play cardinal calls on my phone. Finally he and Mrs. showed up!
Ooh no, Red come back!!! The nature preserve won’t be the same without you. Ha ha.
Thank goodness he did come back. My backyard was filled with gray birds which was depressing to me!
Gray birds! Especially with the AZ brown. Need Red’s coat to brighten things up.
Definitely!
I wonder if the scientific name is Latin based. We did some garden work this morning before the rain.
The first word is from ancient Greek and the second word is Latin. I used AI to tell me…so take it with a grain of salt.
This flycatcher is sooo cool! Love the pics!
Thanks! Hopefully I’ll get some new bird photos at the beach, so I can continue the Bird of the Week challenge.
Seagulls 🥰 my friends!
Have a wonderful time at the beach!
Thanks!!! We leave in about a week. We can’t wait to get out of the heat.
Very interesting bird. Lucky for all of us that one came by when you were looking for a new bird to post about. Interesting information about its nesting.