Ash-throated flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens) and great crested flycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus) are two similar-looking bird species found in North America. While they occupy overlapping ranges and fill similar ecological niches, there are several key differences between these two types of flycatchers.
Identification
Ash-throated and great crested flycatchers can be tricky to tell apart at first glance. However, with a bit of practice, birders can learn to distinguish these species based on a few key identification points.
Size and shape: Ash-throated flycatchers measure around 6.3-7.5 inches in length, while great crested flycatchers are slightly larger at 7.1-8.3 inches long. Both species have the typical flycatcher body shape, with large heads, long tails, and short legs and beaks.
Color pattern: The most noticeable difference lies in the color patterns on the throat and belly. As their name suggests, ash-throated flycatchers have a distinctive gray throat that contrasts with their pale underbelly. Great crested flycatchers lack this gray throat patch and instead have a pale yellow-orange belly and pale yellow throat.
Head pattern: Great crested flycatchers have a much more striking head pattern, with a dark brown crown that contrasts sharply with white supercilium (eyebrow stripe), dark eye line, and pale cheek patch. Ash-throated flycatchers have a more subdued head pattern, with a pale gray crown and less contrasting facial markings.
Beak shape: The beaks of these two flycatchers also differ slightly. Great crested flycatchers have longer, wider beaks than ash-throateds.
Range and Habitat
Ash-throated and great crested flycatchers occupy overlapping ranges across much of the western and central United States. However, they tend to utilize slightly different habitats.
Ash-throated flycatchers breed in dry, open woodlands and scrubby habitats of the American West, Southwest, and south-central states. They are often found in oak woodlands, riparian corridors, and scrubby desert canyons.
Great crested flycatchers occupy more deciduous woodlands and riparian areas, especially along the Mississippi River Valley and southeastern states. They are also found in orchards, parks, and suburban areas with mature trees.
The breeding ranges of these species overlap across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other prairie and plains states. Both species migrate to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America for the winter.
Nest Sites
Ash-throated and great crested flycatchers both nest in tree cavities, including natural holes and old woodpecker nests. However, their nest site preferences differ slightly.
Ash-throated flycatchers often nest in the main fork or cavity of large vertical snags, dead trees, or utility poles. They also readily use nest boxes.
Great crested flycatchers typically choose a horizontal cavity on a live, mature tree and favor creek bottoms and river areas with deciduous trees like cottonwoods, willows, and sycamores. They are less likely to use man-made nest sites.
Eggs
The eggs of ash-throated and great crested flycatchers look nearly identical. They are creamy white with brown blotches concentrated around the wider end of the egg.
Clutch size is around 3-6 eggs for both species. The female incubates the eggs for 14-15 days before they hatch.
Diet and Feeding
Like most flycatchers, ash-throateds and great cresteds are primarily insectivores. They capture insects on the wing or glean them from foliage while perched.
Both species feed on flies, bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, and beetles. They may also occasionally eat small fruits and berries.
Ash-throated flycatchers are more likely to feed closer to the ground, often hovering over scrubby vegetation to pick off insects. Great crested flycatchers typically forage higher up in trees and along the forest edge.
Migration
Ash-throated and great crested flycatchers are both long-distance migrants, wintering south of the US border. However, ash-throateds tend to migrate slightly farther south on average.
Most ash-throated flycatchers overwinter in Central America, from southern Mexico down to Panama. This contrasts with great crested flycatchers, most of which spend the winter in northern Central America and Mexico.
These migration routes mirror the species’ habitat preferences, with ash-throateds favoring more tropical climates in migration and winter than great cresteds.
Vocalizations
The calls of ash-throated and great crested flycatchers differ and can help birders distinguish these species by ear.
Ash-throated flycatchers deliver a raspy, whiny “preeeep” and sharp, squeaky calls. Their vocalizations have a more mechanical timbre.
Great crested flycatchers have louder, fuller-bodied calls described as a rolling “wheep” or “cree-cup” as well as a whistled “whip-wheeeeew.” Their calls are richer and more melodic than the ash-throated’s.
Behavior
Ash-throated and great crested flycatchers exhibit many behavioral similarities, as their lifestyles and ecology are very comparable. However, a few subtle differences exist.
Ash-throateds are more territorial than great cresteds, especially on the wintering grounds, and are more prone to attacking intruders. They also tend to perch more upright than the horizontal perching posture typical of great cresteds.
Great crested flycatchers perform more dramatic aerial displays during courtship. Males pursue females aggressively through territories and perform U-shaped dive displays.
Ash-throated flycatchers are a bit more acrobatic in their foraging style, hovering and leaping into flight more frequently to grab insects. Great cresteds make shorter sallies from perches to catch prey on the wing.
Status and Conservation
Both ash-throated and great crested flycatcher populations appear to be stable across their range. They are considered species of Least Concern by the IUCN.
Habitat loss on the wintering grounds may pose the largest threat to these species. Promoting responsible coffee cultivation and protecting migratory stopover habitats can benefit both species.
Providing nest boxes in areas with declining natural tree cavities can also aid flycatcher reproduction. Limiting pesticide use reduces insect prey availability.
Key Differences
In summary, here are some of the key points differentiating ash-throated and great crested flycatchers:
- Ash-throateds have a gray throat, great cresteds have a pale yellow-orange throat
- Great cresteds have a much more boldly patterned head
- Ash-throateds favor open, scrubby, arid habitats while great cresteds prefer wetter woodlands
- Ash-throateds nest in vertical cavities, great cresteds nest in horizontal tree holes
- Ash-throateds migrate farther south to Central America in winter
- The calls of ash-throateds are raspy and squeaky, great cresteds sound richer and more melodic
- Ash-throateds are more territorial and acrobatic in foraging
Conclusion
Although they may appear similar at first glance, ash-throated and great crested flycatchers can be reliably told apart by careful observations of plumage patterns, vocalizations, habitat preferences, and behavior. Remembering a few key ID points allows birders to distinguish these species in the field.
Both ash-throated and great crested flycatchers play important roles as insect predators in their breeding and wintering grounds across the Americas. Protecting their habitat and food resources will ensure stable populations of these iconic aerial insectivores into the future.
