Eastern
Phoebes are perching birds in the family Tyrannidae
which consists of Tyrant Flycatchers. They have
grayish-olive upperparts and a dark head with no
eye-ring, wings with light wing bars. They have a
dark bill with a pale throat that is whitish in the
spring and yellowish in the fall. Eastern Phoebes
are about 7 inches (18cm) in size where males are
slightly larger than females.
Photos: M. Noonan
Eastern Phoebes live
in woodlands near streams, suburbs, farmyards and
bridges over small streams and rivers. Eastern
Phoebes are one of the earliest migrants to return
and nest in the northern United States and southern
Canada. Their breeding range extends from northern
Canada to the southeastern United States. There
might areas within the breeding range where Eastern
Phoebes are absent due to the lack of
preferred nesting materials. Their wintering grounds
are mostly in the southeastern United States,
primarily around the Gulf Coast and extend into
Mexico. The range of Eastern Phoebes is currently
expanding as the construction of buildings and
bridges where they sometimes build nests are
growing. Eastern Phoebes eat mostly flying insects.
Most commonly they will be seen perching on a
telephone wire and leave in a short flight to
capture insects. During the fall, winter, spring and
unfavorable weather where there are few insects they
will eat small fruits.
Photos: Kyle Horton
The courtship of the Eastern Phoebe consists
of short, erratic flight-chases and pair formation is very rapid. They have
a monogamous mating system and usually have 2 broods per year. Eastern
Phoebes nest in many human-built structures, especially under bridges, in
culverts and well. The female will build the nest. She will often renovate
old nests, especially those of Barn Swallows. The energetic cost of having
to renovate a nest may lead to a reduced clutch size. Females will lay 4-5
white eggs and incubate them for 16 days. The young are altricial when born
which means they are blind, helpless and immobile. Both sexes will tend
young until they are ready to leave the nest about 15-16 days after
hatching. Eastern Phoebes are common victims to Brown-headed Cowbird brood
parasitism. They will build a new nest floor on top of Cowbird eggs.
Photo: M. Noonan
Eastern Phoebes are very common in Forest Lawn
Cemetery, Iroquois NWR and in suburbs of WNY. It is best to find them in
woodlands during the summer where there are plenty of branches with both
open areas and appropriate cover near by.
