 Breeding evidence |
 Relative abundance |
 Probability of observation |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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-1.7 (-2.88 - -0.417)|
Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
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Atlas Results
A denizen of mature deciduous woodlands, Great Crested Flycatchers were primarily found in the eastern portions of the Aspen Parkland and Boreal Transition ecoregions, as well as the Mid-Boreal Lowland. Observations dwindle to the west as the band of suitable habitat narrows towards the Alberta border. Although not found in high relative abundance, their loud calls make them relatively easy to detect by ear which is reflected in the high probability of observation in areas with suitable habitat.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
This bird has been characterized as a "large, noisy flycatcher? (Hooper 1992) with its call "a loud, striking challenge note, coming from somewhere in the woodland treetops? (Bent 1942). When perched it is difficult to spot through leaves and branches, but when it sallies out, the bright yellow of the belly and underwings and the distinctive rufous flash of the tail catch one's eye. Widespread, it breeds throughout the US and southern Canada east of the Rockies. Great Cresteds winter from south Florida through Central America to northern South America.
Nesting habitat is mature deciduous woodlands with trees old and large enough to contain cavities for nesting (Smith 1996). As a migrant it can occur in any treed area.
"It is now a fairly common summer resident of mature deciduous woodlands from St Walburg and Cumberland House in the Southern Boreal Forest to the Strawberry and Touchwood Hills, and the Souris River in the Parklands? (Smith 1996). This relatively narrow strip of mature aspen forest includes Moose Mountain (Nero and Lein 1971) and the Qu'Appelle Valley (Callin 1980). As a migrant it occurs only slightly to the west of its breeding range (Smith 1996), and there is only one record for the Cypress Hills area (Potter 1943a).
Original text by Maurice L. Mareschal. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Great Crested Flycatcher in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Great Crested Flycatcher in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=GCFL&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]
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