Watercolor portrait of Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus
Breeds across eastern and central Canada… Mature deciduous and mixed woodlands, wo… Common Loud "Wheeep" Song

Learn to identify the Great Crested Flycatcher by ear. Master the "WHEE-eep! WHEE-eep!" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“WHEE-eep! WHEE-eep!”

What the Great Crested Flycatcher sounds like

The Great Crested Flycatcher is the largest and most brightly colored of the Myiarchus flycatchers that reach North America. A robust, long-tailed bird with a bushy crest, it sports a gray throat and breast that fade into a bright lemon-yellow belly, set off by warm rufous tones in the tail and wing feathers. Often heard before it is seen, this woodland insect-hunter launches sallies from high, exposed perches, flashing those rusty-orange tail edges as it snaps up prey in mid-air.

“WHEE-eep! WHEE-eep!”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A sharp, whistled two-part phrase given from high canopy perches, often repeated every few seconds at dawn and early morning. Often written as “WHEE-eep! WHEE-eep!”.
Don't confuse with:The Ash-throated Flycatcher — palest yellow belly and pale gray upperparts

Lessons featuring the Great Crested Flycatcher

Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Great Crested Flycatcher's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.

Flycatchers That Say Their Names lesson habitat
Flycatchers That Say Their Names
Tier 4 · Songbirds & Sky Watch
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Where you'll hear it

Mature deciduous and mixed woodlands, wooded edges, parks, orchards, and shaded suburban areas with tall trees. Requires natural cavities or old woodpecker holes for nesting.

Long-distance migrant. Returns to breeding areas in late April–May, raises one brood through summer, and departs August–September. On winter range, relatively sedentary but may wander locally following fruit crops.

Similar species

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Palest yellow belly and pale gray upperparts

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Stouter bill and browner throat

Eastern Kingbird

Blackish head with white tip to tail

Great Crested Flycatcher song FAQ

What does a Great Crested Flycatcher sound like?
A sharp, whistled two-part phrase given from high canopy perches, often repeated every few seconds at dawn and early morning. Listen for the "WHEE-eep! WHEE-eep!" phrase.
How do I tell a Great Crested Flycatcher from a Ash-throated Flycatcher by sound?
Ash-throated Flycatcher: Palest yellow belly and pale gray upperparts; Less extensive rufous in wings/tail; Range mainly western North America.
When is the best time to hear a Great Crested Flycatcher?
Long-distance migrant. Returns to breeding areas in late April–May, raises one brood through summer, and departs August–September. On winter range, relatively sedentary but may wander locally following fruit crops.