Great Crested Flycatchers are a species of bird found across much of the eastern and central United States. They are a fairly common species, though not as numerous as some other flycatchers or songbirds. Their rarity depends on the specific region and habitat. Overall, Great Crested Flycatchers would not generally be considered a rare or endangered species, but their populations have declined in some areas due to habitat loss and other factors.
Range and Population
Great Crested Flycatchers breed in parts of southern Canada and the eastern and central United States. Their breeding range stretches from southeastern Wyoming to southern New England and south to eastern Texas and the Florida panhandle. They migrate to southern Mexico and Central America for the winter.
Within their widespread breeding range, Great Crested Flycatchers are found in fragmented populations rather than uniformly across the whole region. They are more common in some areas than others depending on the suitability of the habitat. Their preferred breeding habitat is open woodlands, especially forests with some clearings and scattered trees near streams or swamps.
The total global population of Great Crested Flycatchers is estimated to be around 4.2 million birds. Their population appears to be declining but they remain fairly common over much of their range. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categorizes them as a species of Least Concern.
Population Trends
According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, Great Crested Flycatcher populations declined by 1.3% per year between 1966 and 2015. The total decline over that period is estimated at around 39%.
However, trends have varied in different regions. Populations have declined most steeply in the northeastern United States. New England states have seen drops of 2-4% per year. In contrast, Great Crested Flycatcher numbers have increased in some Central and Western states.
Habitat loss is believed to be a major contributor to declines in parts of the Great Crested Flycatcher’s range. These birds are fairly particular about their breeding habitat and will abandon areas where suitable forest clearings and scattered trees are lost.
Deforestation, development, and agricultural land conversion have reduced available habitat in many areas. The Great Crested Flycatcher population is thought to have decreased by over 80% in New England since 1966 primarily due to ongoing habitat degradation.
Status as Rare or Threatened
The Great Crested Flycatcher remains a fairly widespread and common bird over much of its range and does not have official conservation status as a rare, threatened or endangered species at the national level. However, some states have classified it as rare, threatened, or of special concern within their boundaries due to severe population declines.
The Great Crested Flycatcher is listed as endangered in Vermont and New Hampshire. It is considered threatened in New York and Massachusetts. Several other northeastern states list it as a species of special concern or a high priority species for conservation.
Farther south and west, Great Crested Flycatcher populations tend to be more stable and substantial. The species is still relatively common through the southern United States and has even increased in some central states like Oklahoma and Arkansas. It is not tracked or listed by most states in the central or southern parts of its range.
While not federally threatened, the Great Crested Flycatcher has been identified as a Bird of Conservation Concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in regions where it has undergone significant declines, especially the Northeast. Conservation measures are recommended to restore breeding habitat and reverse population declines.
Rarity in Specific States and Regions
Northeast
In the northeastern United States, the Great Crested Flycatcher is rare and declining across nearly all states:
– Vermont: Endangered – One of state’s most rapidly declining species. Population declined by over 90% between 1966 and 2007. Fewer than 100 breeding pairs estimated. Restricted to extreme southwestern part of state.
– New Hampshire: Endangered – Population declined by 98% between 1966 and 2007. Only about 10 confirmed breeding pairs remain.
– Massachusetts: Threatened – Has declined by over 90% since 1960s. Restricted to a few locations in western part of state. Around 20-40 breeding pairs estimated.
– Connecticut: Special Concern – Nesting population declined over 60% from 1998 to 2013. Only about 400-500 breeding pairs remain.
– New York: Threatened – Has declined by over 80% since 1980s. About 5,000 breeding pairs estimated statewide.
– New Jersey: Special Concern – Declining rapidly, mostly in northern part of state. Under 100 breeding pairs in northern counties.
– Pennsylvania: No formal designation but suffering declines especially in north and west.
– Maryland: Watch List – Declining but still locally common in some areas. Loss of agricultural lands reducing habitat.
Southeast
The Great Crested Flycatcher remains relatively numerous through much of its southern range. It is not considered rare or substantially threatened in most southeastern states, though some local declines have occurred:
– Virginia: Stable statewide but declining in Shenandoah National Park
– West Virginia: Stable population but declining in eastern panhandle
– Kentucky: Widespread and common, population increasing
– Tennessee: Widespread and common, population stable
– North Carolina: Widespread and common, population stable
– South Carolina: No major threats, common statewide
– Georgia: Significant population declines around Atlanta but common statewide
– Florida: Still common but declining in parts of peninsula likely due to habitat loss
– Alabama and Mississippi: Common and generally stable populations
Midwest and Great Plains
The Great Crested Flycatcher inhabits much of the Midwest and its population appears relatively stable over most of its central range:
– Ohio: Common statewide with some evidence of increase
– Indiana and Illinois: Abundant summer resident, populations stable
– Missouri: Common statewide with evidence of increasing population
– Michigan: Declines in southwest part of state but abundant and increasing in north
– Wisconsin: Widespread and common statewide
– Minnesota: Declining at edge of range in prairie region but common in eastern forests
– Iowa: Declining slightly in recent decades but still a common species
– Arkansas: Abundant and increasing population
– Oklahoma: Significant increase in recent decades, especially in east
– Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas: Widespread but declining at western edge of breeding range
– Texas: Very common breeder in eastern part of state with stable population
Habitats Where Rare or Absent
While Great Crested Flycatchers breed in much of the eastern half of the United States, they are rare or absent from certain habitat types and regions:
– Not found in the far northeastern states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont where breeding habitat is minimal
– Rare along the immediate Atlantic Coast from New Jersey northward
– Sparse in the Appalachian Mountains at higher elevations above 3000 feet
– Rare in urbanized areas without significant woodlands and scattered trees
– Avoid uniform dense forests with little understory, require some clearings
– Declining in agricultural areas where woodlands have been removed
– Absent from western prairie regions with few trees beyond shelterbelts
– Reach the western limits of their breeding range in eastern Wyoming, Nebraska, and Texas
– Declining in prairie portions of central states like Minnesota and Iowa
– Do not breed along the Gulf Coast in southern Texas and Louisiana
– Very rare west of the Continental Divide; extirpated from former ranges in Arizona
Reasons for Rarity or Absence
There are several reasons why Great Crested Flycatchers are rare, declining, or absent from parts of their historical breeding range:
– **Habitat loss**: Deforestation and land conversion for development and agriculture have reduced their nesting habitat especially in the Northeast. They are sparse in heavily urbanized areas.
– **Habitat degradation**: Forest management practices have removed dead trees and snags required for nest cavities. Remaining woodlands are often fragmented or lack adequate clearings.
– **Nest competition**: Shortages of natural cavities force flycatchers to compete for nest sites with other secondary cavity nesting birds. Introduced species like European Starlings exacerbate competition.
– **Brood parasitism**: Great Crested Flycatchers suffer from high rates of brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds in some regions. Cowbirds lay eggs in their nests, reducing nest productivity.
– **Climate change**: Their range may be shifting northward as springs arrive earlier and summers become hotter and drier in the southern part of their range.
– **Pesticides**: May have been impacted by heavy pesticide use in agricultural areas in mid-20th century before DDT ban and enactment of environmental regulations.
– **Edge of range**: Naturally less common at the extremes of their range in the arid Southwest and western Prairie regions.
– **Natural population fluctuations**: Numbers can fluctuate from year to year. Recent declines in parts of range may reflect low points in natural cycles.
Conservation Actions
Various conservation actions are recommended to benefit declining Great Crested Flycatcher populations:
– Protection and management of remaining deciduous and mixed forests, especially those bordering streams and swamps.
– Monitoring and maintenance of adequate dead trees and snags for nesting cavities.
– Control of brown-headed cowbirds where brood parasitism is excessive.
– Nest box programs in some areas to augment natural cavities. Boxes should have appropriate hole size and height to mimic natural cavities.
– Land conservation and habitat corridors between fragmented woodlands to facilitate movement.
– Public education and involvement of landowners to protect flycatcher habitat on private lands.
– Pesticide regulation and enforcement to prevent overuse, misuse, or contamination of breeding habitats.
– Research into specific causes of declines in certain regions and identification of important breeding areas.
– Breeding bird surveys and population monitoring to detect future population trends.
With appropriate conservation management, the long-term outlook for Great Crested Flycatchers remains fairly positive over most of their breeding range. But sustaining populations in areas of significant decline, especially New England, depends on halting habitat degradation and facilitating nesting success. Ongoing monitoring and habitat protection will be key.
Conclusion
The Great Crested Flycatcher remains a common and widespread songbird through much of the eastern and central United States. However, it has suffered significant population declines and local extirpations in the Northeast due to extensive habitat loss. The species is now endangered, threatened, or of conservation concern in several northeastern states. While not rare over most of its range, the Great Crested Flycatcher has disappeared from parts of its historical distribution and requires continued conservation attention, especially where breeding habitat is threatened by development or land use changes. Sustained conservation management will be important for ensuring healthy flycatcher populations into the future.