Taxonomy/Description

Eastern Phoebes are perching birds in the family Tyrannidae which consists of Tyrant Flycatchers. They have grayish-olive upperparts and a dark head, wings and tail. They have a dark bill with a pale throat that is whitish in the spring and yellowish in the fall. Many times, Eastern Phoebes can be seen wagging their tails. Eastern Phoebes are fairly common and are about 7 inches (18cm) in size.

photos Michael Noonan

Habitat/Diet

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 is 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 they will eat small fruits.

Behavior/Reproduction

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 correlates 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.

Vocalization

The mnemonic for the song of the Eastern Phoebe is fee-bee.

Where to see them in WNY

Eastern Phoebes are very common in Forest Lawn Cemetery and in suburbs of WNY.