Birdsong field guide
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
A hardy, medium-sized flycatcher of eastern North America, easily identified by its frequent tail-wagging and tolerance of human structures.
What it sounds like
A sharp, raspy, two-syllable 'fee-bee,' with the second syllable often stuttered or alternated in pitch.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It is famous for its habit of rhythmically wagging its tail downward when perched on a branch or wire.
- This was the first North American bird species to be banded when John James Audubon tied silver thread to a nestling's leg in 1804.
- Unlike most flycatchers, it is a very early migrant, often returning to breeding grounds before the last snow has melted.
- It frequently builds its cup-shaped nest of mud and moss on human-made structures like bridges, culverts, and house eaves.
- While primarily an insectivore, it will occasionally eat small fruits or even catch tiny fish from shallow water during cold spells.
Habitat
Open woodlands, farmyards, and suburban areas, almost always near water and suitable nesting ledges.
Range
Breeds across eastern North America and central Canada; winters in the southern United States and Mexico.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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