Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
Say's Phoebes venture farther north than any other tyrant flycatcher, regularly breeding beyond the Arctic Circle in Alaska and northwestern Canada.
- Scientific name
- Sayornis saya
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Tyrannidae › Sayornis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- desert
- Habitat
- Arid open country, canyonlands, desert scrub, sagebrush flats, and rural ranchlands
- Diet
- Insects including flies, grasshoppers, beetles, bees, and moths, with occasional small berries
- Range
- United States, Mexico, Canada
- Size
- 17-19 cm length, 33 cm wingspan, ~21 g
- Lifespan
- 5-9 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Pesticide application reducing insect prey, severe prolonged droughts, and habitat loss
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Safe to observe from a respectful distance of 10 to 15 feet. Say's Phoebes are tolerant of people and frequently nest on building eaves or porch rafters; avoid disturbing active nests during spring breeding.
The Say's phoebe ( Sayornis saya ) is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. A common bird in the western United States. It prefers dry, desolate areas. This bird was named for Thomas Say, the American naturalist.
Photo: Bill Levine, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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