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Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesForestCup nestSmall · 20 g
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 1
Photo: mattmsa · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 2
Photo: mattmsa · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 3
Photo: sudomir · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 4
Photo: Luke · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 5
Photo: Amber M. King · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 6
Photo: Amber M. King · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 7
Photo: Dan Horowitz · CC0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 8
Photo: Emily Geest · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 9
Photo: Emily Geest · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), photo 10
Photo: John Benson · CC BY 2.0

What the Eastern Phoebe sounds like

Sonogram of the Eastern Phoebe: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Song · Wild River State Park, Chisago County, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Eastern Phoebe: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Song · Lake Bemidji State Park, Beltrami, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Eastern Phoebe: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

Measurements: Length: 5.5–6.7 in (14–17 cm) Weight: 0.6–0.7 oz (16–21 g) Wingspan: 10.2–11.0 in (26–28 cm) This species appears remarkably big-headed, especially if it puffs up the small crest. Its plumage is gray-brown above. It has a white throat, dirty gray breast and buffish underparts which become whiter during the breeding season. Two indistinct buff bars are present on each wing. Its lack of an eye ring and wingbars, and its all dark bill distinguish it from other North American tyrant flycatchers, and it pumps its tail up and down like other phoebes when perching on a branch.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Eastern Phoebe

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Eastern Phoebe

Regular range

The map shades 7 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

United States Canada Mexico Bahamas Bermuda Cuba St. Pierre & Miquelon

About the Eastern Phoebe

The eastern phoebe is a small passerine bird. The genus name Sayornis is constructed from the specific part of Charles Lucien Bonaparte's name for Say's phoebe, Muscicapa saya, and Ancient Greek ornis, "bird". Phoebe is an alternative name for the Roman moon-goddess Diana, but it may also have been chosen to imitate the bird's call.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) Black PhoebeSayornis nigricansThe 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). Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSay's phoebe is a barrel-chested bird with a squared-off head.

Side by side: Black Phoebe vs Eastern Phoebe · Eastern Phoebe vs Say's Phoebe

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