Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus

Great Crested Flycatcher has an incomplete preformative molt that occurs mostly on the wintering grounds, as do the partial to incomplete prealternate molts; the prebasic molt is completed prior to fall migration. Differences in feather shape and condition tend to be subtle, and ageing is often only reliable through skulling in fall. Sexes are also difficult to distinguish as plumage is identical, and even in the breeding season both develop a brood patch, and males have only a poorly developed cloacal protuberance.

Note that several Myiarchus flycatchers are quite similar in appearance; especially where ranges overlap or in situations where any of the species are unexpected, identification should be considered carefully.

Quick tips

• Examine the primary coverts - on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) birds they are relatively narrow and pointed (and paler than the greater coverts in spring), while on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) birds they are broader and more rounded, and uniform in colour and wear with the greater coverts in all seasons.
• Look at the secondaries - on FPF (HY) birds during migration and DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) birds they are uniform in colour and wear, but there can be a molt limt with up to three middle feathers slightly paler and more worn (FCF/HY) or darker and fresher (FCA/SY) than the others.
• In fall, consider the shape and colour of the rectrices - on FCF (HY) birds they are somewhat pointed and quite rufous, while on DCB (AHY) birds they are more rounded and slightly duller.

Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2018). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)