Say's Phoebe

Overview

The Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya) is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family, Tyrannidae. It is a common species across western North America, characterised by its preference for dry, desolate landscapes and arid environments.

Identification

• Plumage: Gray-brown above with a distinct black tail and buffy cinnamon below, turning more orange around the vent.
• Structure: Features a barrel-chested body and a squared-off head, with long tails where the primaries extend just past the rump when resting.
• Size: Adults measure approximately 7.5 in (19 cm) in length with a wingspan of 13 in (33 cm) and weigh about 0.75 oz (21 g).
• Song: Vocalisations are loud initially and then level off to a steady pitch, often delivered while hovering over open fields.

Habitat

Found year-round in western North America, with breeding grounds stretching from Arctic Alaska to central Mexico. The species prefers dry, desolate, and arid landscapes, including farmland, savanna, and open woodlands, usually near water sources.

Diet

The diet consists almost exclusively of insects, including grasshoppers, flies, crickets, beetles, and bees. Foraging behaviour involves sallies from perches to catch prey in mid-air, hovering in a Kestrel-like manner, and occasionally dipping the tail while perched.

Did you know?

Say's phoebes are known to attach their cup-shaped nests to unusual structures such as abandoned mine shafts, bridges, and canyon walls. The female constructs these nests using grass, forbs, moss, and plant fibres, lining them with hair and other fine materials.