Head to head
Great Crested Flycatcher vs Eastern Kingbird
A great crested flycatcher and an eastern kingbird are both members of the tyrant flycatcher family known for aggressively defending their nests, yet each has developed a completely different signature behaviour that sets it apart.
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Eastern Kingbird | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Myiarchus crinitus | Tyrannus tyrannus |
| Signature trait | Weaves shed snake skin into its nest | Attacks hawks and crows near its nest |
| Nest type | Inside a tree cavity | Open cup nest |
| Hidden marking | None comparable | Concealed orange-red crown patch |
| Hunting method | Aerial hawking from a perch | Aerial hawking from a perch |
| Habitat | Deciduous and mixed forest | Open grassland and wetland edges |
| Winter range | Central and South America | South America |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Great Crested Flycatcher vs Eastern Kingbird: common questions
Which of these two flycatchers is more aggressive toward predators?
The eastern kingbird is by far the more aggressive of the two toward predators, famously dive-bombing hawks, crows, and other much larger birds that stray too close to its nest, while the great crested flycatcher relies more on the concealment of its tree-cavity nest than on direct confrontation.
Why does the great crested flycatcher put snake skin in its nest?
This species frequently weaves a piece of shed snake skin, or a substitute like plastic wrap when snake skin is unavailable, into the lining of its tree-cavity nest, and while the exact purpose remains debated among researchers, one leading idea is that the texture or sound may help deter potential nest predators.
What is the hidden crown patch on the eastern kingbird for?
The eastern kingbird carries a concealed patch of orange-red feathers on its crown that stays hidden most of the time, flashed into view mainly during aggressive encounters or courtship displays, a marking the great crested flycatcher does not share.