Great Crested Flycatcher

Here's another bird that's supposed to be fairly abundant but that I rarely see, a Great Crested Flycatcher. Though this bird could have been using NJ as a resting spot on its way to nesting further north, it's probably more likely that this flycatcher will stick around here. NJ is well within their breeding range.

These birds appear to like being high in tree canopies and under dense foliage. This makes them harder to spot (which most birds probably like) but also means they're foraging in a slightly different area than the other flycatchers.

The Great Crested Flycatcher actually looks pretty similar to 3-4 of its relatives, though none of those relatives are likely to be found in NJ. The yellow patch on their belly/breast also extends further up than on those other birds, which more or less eliminates the possibility of a bird that's just way out of its usual range.

Like all flycatchers insects are a favorite meal, but they're a bit more omnivorous than most flycatchers and will gobble up small fruit (presumably berries) too.

Despite being hard to spot, I've run across these birds before.

May 19, 2022 at Duke Farms
Photo 203067245, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)




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