# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/479cfc65-26be-4328-af40-4cd129bac40a
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/17009
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayornis saya
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/177575930/medium.jpeg (Bill Levine, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.