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Say's Phoebe

Sayornis sayaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Breeding Location:

Open landscapes



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:

Fairly common, Stable



Egg Color:

White, sometimes with red or brown spots



Number of Eggs:

3 - 7



Incubation Days:

12 - 14



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Grasses and mud., Lined with grass, weeds, moss, spider webs, and wool.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Say's Phoebe: Medium-sized, active flycatcher with gray-brown upperparts and head, paler gray throat and upper breast, and pale rufous belly and undertail coverts. The wings and tail are dark gray. Feeds primarily on insects. Weak fluttering flight with shallow wing beats. Hawks from perch, hovers.

Range and Habitat

Say's Phoebe: Breeds from central Alaska, Yukon, and northern Mackenzie south through western mountains to Mexico. Spends winters in California and western Oregon. Frequents open areas such as prairies, tundra, farmlands, and playing fields.

Breeding and Nesting

Say's Phoebe: Three to seven white eggs, sometimes brown or red spotted, are laid in a nest made of grass and wool and built in a sheltered, elevated, dry site on a ledge, rock wall, or building. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female. Usually raises one to two, but sometimes three broods per year.

Foraging and Feeding

Say's Phoebe: Feeds on insects but also eats berries. Flies from perch to catch insects; also hovers above grass when hunting.

Readily Eats

Meal Worms

Vocalization

Say's Phoebe: Song is a series of relatively low, whistled phases "pidiweew" and "pidireep", usually alternated in steady tempo. Call is a low, plaintive whistled "pdeer" or "tueeee."

Similar Species

Say's Phoebe: Eastern Phoebe has darker head and whiter underparts.

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Family Flycatcher (Tyrannidae)_blue
Species Sayornis saya
Length7 - 8 Inches
Wingspan12.5 Inches

Say's Phoebe

Say's Phoebe: Medium-sized, active flycatcher with gray-brown upperparts and head, paler gray throat and upper breast, and pale rufous belly and undertail coverts. The wings and tail are dark gray. Feeds primarily on insects. Weak fluttering flight with shallow wing beats. Hawks from perch, hovers.

● Song: A low, whistled "pidiweew" and "pidireep"; a low, plantive whistled "pdeer" or "tueeee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Say's Phoebe: Feeds on insects but also eats berries. Flies from perch to catch insects; also hovers above grass when hunting.

● Breeding & nesting: Say's Phoebe: Three to seven white eggs, sometimes brown or red spotted, are laid in a nest made of grass and wool and built in a sheltered, elevated, dry site on a ledge, rock wall, or building. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female. Usually raises one to two, but sometimes three broods per year.

● Similar species: Say's Phoebe: Eastern Phoebe has darker head and whiter underparts.

Flight Pattern

Buoyant fluttering flight with shallow wing beats., Hovers, dips for prey.
Say's Phoebe Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Say's Phoebe: Breeds from central Alaska, Yukon, and northern Mackenzie south through western mountains to Mexico. Spends winters in California and western Oregon. Frequents open areas such as prairies, tundra, farmlands, and playing fields.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common, Stable
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.7 Ounces