Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) photos by Larry Jordan
One of my favorite western cavity nesting birds is the Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens). By the end of this post I think you will know why (click on photos for full sized images).
Ash-throated Flycatchers nest in natural cavities in trees or cactus, or in man made nest boxes, or almost any natural or artificial cavity of the appropriate size. They take to Bluebird nest boxes as easily as do the Tree Swallows.
Their nest is constructed primarily or entirely by the female of dry grasses, rootlets, weed stems and bits of dried cow or horse dung, lined with hair, fur, wool or feathers.
This is what the hatchlings look like on the first day, pink and naked.
A few days later they begin to get some color as feathers begin to develop.
Around day 8 their feathers are emerging from their shafts.
And here are the nestlings a few days before they fledge, already showing the yellow, gray and rust colors of their parents.
I went out early Saturday morning to catch the early light on this nest box and enjoy watching the parents feeding the youngsters. They were foraging close by the nest in their usual low flying habit of going from perch to perch on the lower bare branches of the oak trees finding mostly arthropods to feed the nestlings.
Here is one of the adults peering into the nest box with its tail fanned out showing that gorgeous rufous color.
Ash-throated Flycatchers are deceptively quick but I managed to catch this one exiting the birdhouse. Many times, especially early in the nesting stages, they will have a fecal sac in their beak as they exit to drop somewhere away from the nest keeping it clean.
I shot this video and was lucky enough to record not only the calls of the Ash-throated Flycatchers but a few other cavity nesting birds that you can hear in the background. Go ahead and venture a guess as to the identity of at least two other cavity nesting species in the video. You may also pick up the woodpecker drumming around the 43 second mark and one of the nestling’s head popping up at the end of the video.
For more great bird photos from around the world, check out World Bird Wednesday!
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Wow a lovely post… a beautiful family very well captured.
Good work, well done!
What a great post and I love all the photos. This would be a new flycatcher for me.
Love the babies. They are just so cute. How nice to watch them grow up.
B.
they’re beautiful in their understated colors.
Beautiful birds! You are lucky to have them so close!!!
Great post!! Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Discovered you on World Bird Wednesday and very much enjoy your site … new follower!
Now that is a post! It’s incredible to see the development of these flycatchers. Amazing that you’ve caught the action in such detail. Great job Larry!
Beautiful birds and I would love to see them – but it’s a long way from here! The photos of the young ones growing in the nest are really great.
Super series showing their development. I particularly like the ‘exit’ shot .. well done Larry.
Great post – you took us through the life cycle of this bird!
HOW COOL…the Great Crested Flycatcher normally nests here in our yard..this yr Im not sure they fledged any young…Used to see other flycatchers around but not lately. Great series on this Family!!
Terrific series! What beautiful eggs an a delightful crew!
Larry – thank you so very much for “info” – – Nothing like “Nature” – and “all God’s creatures”!!!!! 🙂