Bird Guide

Black Phoebe vs Say's Phoebe

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Small19 gRocky

The black phoebe is a medium-sized flycatcher, being 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighing 15 to 22 g (0.5 to 0.8 oz). It has predominantly black plumage, with white on its belly and undertail coverts. The white forms an inverted "V" in the lower breast. The sexes are identical and plumage does not vary seasonally. Juveniles have browner plumage, cinnamon-brown feather tips on their body, and brown wing-bars. The bird has brown irises and black legs, feet, and beak.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: gerardo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John J. Mosesso, NBII · Public domain
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya

Small21 gForest

Say's phoebe is a barrel-chested bird with a squared-off head. It is gray-brown above with a black tail and buffy cinnamon below, becoming more orange around the vent. The tail is long and the primaries end just past the rump on resting birds. The wings seem pale in flight and resemble a female mountain bluebird. The juvenile is similar to adult, but has buffy orange to whitish wingbars and a yellow gape. The adult bird is 7.5 in (19 cm) long, has a wingspan of 13 in (33 cm) and weighs 0.75 oz (21 g).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Anne · CC0
Photo: Linda Tanner from Los Osos, California, U.S.A. · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black Phoebe and Say's Phoebe.