Aerial Insectivores

Aerial Insectivores

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Eastern Wood Pewee

They obtain food by catching insects in mid-flight and hovering to pick them off of trees and bushes
They migrate to the Andes in South America and to Central America at the end of summer
The females lay 3 to 4 translucent eggs which gradually turn a light cream color and develop brown spots

Acadian Flycatcher

Their breeding habitat is most often deciduous forests near water
They eat insects that they catch in mid-air or by picking them off of bushes while hovering
In some areas, Brown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in the flycatcher’s nest

Eastern Phoebe

Often one of the first birds to return in the spring, and the last one to leave in the fall
The bird mostly eats insects, but is known to also eat fruits and berries
A perching bird will often “bob” its tail, which is a good way to identify the bird

Great Crested Flycatcher

These birds catch insects in mid-flight or pick them off of trees or bushes
When building their nests, a snake skin is usually included although plastic wrappers have been found as a substitute
The bird’s call is a whistled weep.

Eastern Kingbird

These birds are known to aggressively defend their territory, even against much larger birds
These birds are able to remove the cowbird eggs placed in their nest
They catch insects in mid-flight or pick them off of trees or bushes

Purple Martin

The largest North American swallow at 20 cm in length
House Sparrows and Common Starlings are responsible for the decline of these birds across America
Purple Martins catch insects in the air, making them aerial insectivores

Tree Swallow

While there are young in their nests, the birds will often dive bomb intruders; even humans
They are known to “fight” over feathers in midair, for reasons still unknown
Their diet primarily consists of insects although they sometimes eat fruit

Barn Swallow

It is estimated that they beat their wings fifteen times per second
They catch insects in mid-air, they are aerial insectivores
The barn swallow will swoop and attack intruders that come too close to their nest