Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 7.5–8.3 in
19–21 cm - Wingspan
- 11.8–12.6 in
30–32 cm - Weight
- 0.7–1.3 oz
21–38 g
Other Names
- Tyran à gorge cendrée (French)
Cool Facts
- Unlike most members of its genus, the Ash-throated Flycatcher only occasionally uses snakeskin in its nest. Only 5% of nests examined contained reptile skin, but 98% had mammal hair. Rabbit fur was the most frequently used.
- The Ash-throated Flycatcher frequently uses man-made structures for nesting. It readily uses nest boxes, as well as pipes, fence posts, ledges under eaves or porches, and even in clothes hanging on a clothesline. The use of artificial structures may have offset the loss of natural nest sites by development, and may be responsible for an increase in numbers.
- The Ash-throated Flycatcher is a rare, but regular vagrant to the East Coast. Individuals turn up nearly every year, and have been found in all coastal states and provinces. Sightings are less frequent from inland areas in the East and Midwest.
Habitat
Open Woodland
Arid and semiarid scrub, open woodland, and riparian woodlands.
Food
Insects
Arthropods and small fruit. Occasionally small reptiles and mammals.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–7 eggs
- Egg Description
- Creamy white with sparse dark streaks and blotches.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless and naked.
Nest Description
Nests in cavities, such as woodpecker holes and nest boxes. Nest made of dry grass, weed stems, manure, dry leaves. Lined with hair, feathers, soft plant fibers, and, rarely, shed snakeskin.
Nest Placement
Cavity
Behavior
Hovering
Captures insects off vegetation and on ground. Flycatches somewhat less often, usually using different perches in between sallies.
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations increasing.
Credits
- Cardiff, S. W., and D. L. Dittmann. Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens). In The Birds of North America, No. 664 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.