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Platte River Status: A fairly common migrant and summer resident. Occurrence dates from the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 9 May to 27 August. Tout (1947) recorded great crested flycatcher only as a spring migrant in Lincoln County present 5 to 30 May, with one August record. Rosche (1979) found great crested flycatcher in the lower North Platte River Valley during 15 May to 11 September. Short (1961) found great crested flycatcher along the South Platte River as far west as Crook, Colorado.

Breeding Range: An uncommon nesting species within the Platte River Valley west to Keith County; local on the Eastern Plain and Dissected Plain.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 650 nesting pairs.

Habitat: We found the highest mean nesting densities in lowland forest (6.4 pairs/km²) and in river channel islands (0.2 pairs/km²). Great crested flycatcher reached highest nesting densities on a northeastern North Dakota study area in mature quaking aspen forest (Faanes and Andrew 1983). In northern Wisconsin, Beals (1960) reported highest nesting densities of this species from dense deciduous forest, and Johnston (1947) in Illinois, found great crested flycather nesting in the forest interior.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Great crested flycatcher has benefited from de-watering of the Platte River system and the subsequent encroachment of wooded vegetation within the river channel. We believe that development of the riparian forest has been instrumental in the westward expansion of this species across the study area. Great crested flycatcher was absent during the nesting season in Lincoln County in the early 20th century (Tout 1947), but its current distribution is west to the lower North Platte River Valley (Rosche 1979).

Nesting Data: The only confirmed record of eggs or young from the study area is provided by Benckeser (1950) who found two recently fledged young near Brule, Keith County, on 21 July 1949. Johnsgard (1979) reported that egg dates in Kansas extend from 11 May 10 July.