# Great Crested Flycatcher

*Myiarchus crinitus*

This bird is famous for its 'interior decorating' habit of weaving shed snakeskin or pieces of clear plastic into its nest to deter predators.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Tyrannidae › Myiarchus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, and mature leafy orchards.
- **Diet:** Primarily insects such as beetles, dragonflies, and bees; also consumes small fruits and berries.
- **Range:** Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada, Mexico, Central America, Northern South America
- **Size:** Length: 17-21 cm; Wingspan: 33 cm
- **Lifespan:** 10-14 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Deforestation, loss of nesting cavities, and reduction of insect prey due to widespread pesticide use.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and elusive. Observe with binoculars from a distance to avoid disrupting their nesting sites. If you find a nest, do not touch it; they are sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season.

## About

The great crested flycatcher ( Myiarchus crinitus ) is a large insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. It is the most widespread member of the genus Myiarchus in North America, and is found over most of the eastern and mid-western portions of the continent. It dwells mostly in the treetops and rarely is found on the ground.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/ae213b97-abb5-46b0-a7ef-9006155f9d14
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/16028
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myiarchus crinitus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/202717991/medium.jpeg (Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago, CC0, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.