Species

Eastern phoebe

Sayornis phoebe

A modest grey flycatcher that wags its tail, says its own name, and nests under bridges and porches.

Photo John Benson (opens in a new tab) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab)

At a glance

Size: About 14 to 17 cm long
Weight: About 16 to 21 g
Habitat: Woodland edges, farms, yards, bridges and buildings near water
Diet: Flying insects; some berries in winter
In Georgia: Common all year; more numerous in winter
Voice: A raspy "FEE-bee"
Rabies vector: No

Identification

Key marks: Grey-brown above, whitish below; dark head; no strong wing bars; constantly wags its tail
Told apart from: Eastern wood-pewee, which has wing bars and does not wag its tail
Where to look: Perches near bridges, barns and porches

Behaviour

Eastern phoebes hunt from low perches, pumping their tails. They build mud-and-moss nests on ledges under bridges, eaves and porches.

Why they matter

The eastern phoebe was the first bird banded in North America: in 1804 John James Audubon tied thread to young phoebes' legs and saw them return the next year. Phoebes adapted early to nesting on buildings and bridges.

Reproduction and lifecycle

Nest — A cup of mud and moss on a ledge under a bridge, eave or porch
Eggs — Usually four or five
Incubation — About 15 to 16 days
Chicks — Fed by both parents
Flight — At about 16 to 18 days
Broods — Often two a year
Lifespan — Several years

Living around people

A phoebe nest on a porch lasts only a few weeks; leaving it be is the kindest thing.
Phoebes reuse the same ledges year after year.

Misconceptions

Birds nesting on houses are a nuisance. Phoebes eat many insects around homes and are gone within weeks.

Related species

Seasonal activity

When this species is breeding, and when there are nests on the ground. Mowing during the shaded months is how most nests are found.

Breeding and active nests by month for this species
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Breeding	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Active nests	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Notes	Wintering birds present	Singing	Nest building	Nesting	Chicks	Second broods	Young fledging	Present	Present	Migrants arriving	Present	Present

Where it lives

Recorded in 59 states and provinces. Each one links to the other animals there, and to the rehabilitators licensed for them.

Canada

Mexico

If you found one

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