Sunday, September 12, 2010

Why the name?

Yesterday photographer MURRAY HEAD saw and captured [on film of course] one of the large number of birds stopping over in Central Park on their way to southern wintering grounds. It was a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER.



Question:

Why is the bird called a Great Crested Flycatcher when it doesn't seem to have any crest at all, great or small? The picture below, posted on 6/29/09 on a now defunct North Carolina blog, provides a clue. Hint: it was windy atop that birdhouse as the bird paused with nesting material in his bill. I think you'll agree that the flycatcher has a great crest indeed.