BirdNoir: Nestboxes and Snake Skins

Private Eye Michael Stein investigates a possible break in when a kindly neighbor fears a snake has attacked a nestbox occupied by nesting Great Crested Flycatchers. What he finds is an ingenious way that birds sometimes use a predator’s survival instincts to their own advantage.

BirdNote^®
BirdNoir: Nestboxes and Snake Skins
Written by Ariana Remmel

This is BirdNoir. I’m Private Eye Michael Stein.

[🎵Love and Hate - Jackie McLean]

Spring was in the air when I got a call from my neighbor, Ms. Wigginwax, about a frightful sighting.

Ms. Wigginwax: Michael, I was sitting on the porch when I thought I saw a snake flying into my new nestbox! Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me, but I’m worried about the birds!

That does sound shocking, Ms. Wigginwax. Now, do you know if any birds are using the nestbox?

Ms. Wigginwax: Why yes! A lovely pair of Great Crested Flycatchers.

[Great Crested Flycatcher]

Aha! Those Great Crested Flycatchers aren’t being attacked by a snake with wings — they’re building a nest! And using shed snake skin to scare away intruders! Cavity nests are often raided by hungry rodents. But a little bit of snake skin may trick would-be egg-eaters into thinking that they’re on the menu instead.

Ms. Wigginwax: Oh thank you, Michael. It’s good to know my flycatchers — and their chicks — will be safe.

[Great Crested Flycatcher]

If only home security were that simple for humans! For more bird mysteries, go to our website, BirdNote.org. I’m Michael Stein, Private Eye.

###
Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin

Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Great Crested Flycatcher ML239487761 recorded by Wil Hershberger.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2026 BirdNote May 2026
Narrator: Michael Stein

ID# noir-13-2026-05-01 noir-13

Reference:
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/733208