Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya

Say's Phoebe is a phoebe of drier habitats in the western part of the U.S.  They will often nest on and around farm buildings in the western part of the state.  They can often be seen on the highest perch in a particular area, keeping an eye out for insects.  Where a suitable perch is absent, they will also hover as they forage.

Habitat: Prefers open terrain such as prairies, rangeland, farmland, and canyons. 

Diet: Almost exclusively insects, rarely berries. Has the lovely habit of coughing up indigestible insect parts.

Behavior: Typical flycatcher behavior when foraging...observing from a perch, and flying out to catch insects when they are spotted. 

Nesting: May through July

Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey Map

Song: Say's Phoebe Song

Migration: Summers in Western U.S., Canada, and Alaska.  Winters in the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central America.

Similar Species: Quite similar to female Vermillion Flycatcher.

Status: Generally stable.  They have learned to adapt to human presence, and now often nest in residential areas. 

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Say's Phoebe

2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Say's Phoebe

3) eNature.com - Say's Phoebe

Photo Information: May 2nd, 2008 - Bryce Canyon, Utah - Terry Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Say's Phoebe photos.