Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 6.3 in
16 cm - Weight
- 0.5–0.8 oz
15–22 g
Other Names
- Moucherolle noir (French)
- Mosquero negro (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Although primarily insectivorous, the Black Phoebe occasionally catches fish. It dives into ponds to catch small minnows or other tiny fish, and may even feed fish to nestlings.
- The male Black Phoebe shows the female potential nest sites, hovering in front of a likely spot for 5 to 10 seconds. The female makes the final decision about where to place the nest and does all the construction.
Habitat
Open Woodland
Found in open areas near water, along cliffs, streams, lakes, agricultural areas, and parks. Often found around buildings.
Food
Insects
Insects, some small berries and small fish.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- White, may be lightly spotted around large end.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with sparse down.
Nest Description
Nest an open cup, cemented with mud to a wall close to a ceiling. Nest made of mud mixed with grass and other dry vegetation or hair, lined with woven plant fibers. Placed under bridge, cliff, or eave of building.
Nest Placement
Cliff
Behavior
Flycatching
Flies from low perch and pursues flying insects. Also hovers and gleans insects from substrate.
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations in United States increasing. Benefits from many human activities, but destruction of riparian habitats and diversion of water is a concern.
Credits
- Wolf, B. O. 1997. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans). In The Birds of North America, No. 268 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.