Eastern Phoebe

Overview

Eastern Phoebe: Small flycatcher with dark gray-brown upperparts and slightly darker wings and tail. Underparts are pale with hint of olive-brown or yellow on sides and breast. Bill, legs, and feet are black. Feeds on insects, small fish, berries and fruit. Weak fluttering bouyant flight.

Range and Habitat

Eastern Phoebe: Breeds north of the Mason-Dixon Line in North America; spends winters as far north as the Ohio River.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Eastern Phoebe was the first bird to be banded in North America. In 1804, John James Audubon used a silver thread attached to its leg to note when the bird would return each year.
Of the three Phoebe species, the Eastern Phoebe’s call most closely resembles its name.
Unlike most songbirds who must hear other birds to hone their vocalizations, an Eastern Phoebe raised in isolation will still sing a perfect song.
A group of flycatchers has many collective nouns, including an "outfield", "swatting", "zapper", and "zipper" of flycatchers.

The Eastern Phoebe has a large range, estimated globally at 6,200,000 square kilometers. It is native to the nations of North America as well as Belize, Bahamas, Cuba, and Turks and Caicos Islands and prefers forest and shrubland ecosystems. The global population of this bird is estimated to be 16,000,000 individuals and it does not appear to meet population decline criteria that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. The current evaluation status of the Eastern Phoebe is Least Concern.