Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 5.5–6.7 in
14–17 cm - Wingspan
- 10.2–11 in
26–28 cm - Weight
- 0.6–0.7 oz
16–21 g
Other Names
- Moucherolle phébi (French)
- Mosquero fibi (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- In 1804, the Eastern Phoebe became the first banded bird in North America. John James Audubon attached silvered thread to an Eastern Phoebe's leg to track its return in successive years.
- The Eastern Phoebe is a loner, rarely coming in contact with other phoebes. Even members of a mated pair do not spend much time together. They may roost together a bit early in pair formation, but even during egg laying the female frequently chases the male away from her.
- The use of buildings and bridges for nest sites has allowed the Eastern Phoebe to tolerate the landscape changes made by humans and even expand its range. However, it still uses natural nest sites when they are available.
Habitat
Open Woodland
Found in woodlands and along forest edges, often near water.
Food
Insects
Flying insects. Occasional small fruits.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- Color: White, occasionally with a few reddish brown dots.
Size: 18.8-20.6 mm x 14.0-17.0 mm.
(0.73-0.81 in x 0.55-0.67 in)
Incubation period: 16 days. - Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with sparse gray down.
Chicks fledge in 16-18 days.
Nest Description
Nest an open cup, cemented with mud to a wall close to a ceiling. Nest made of mud mixed with green moss and some leaves, lined with fine grass stems and hair. Placed under bridge, cliff, or eave of building.
Nest Placement
Building
Behavior
Flycatching
Flies from perch near ground and pursues flying insects. Also hovers and gleans insects from substrate.
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations stable or slightly increasing.
Credits
- Weeks, H. P., Jr. 1994. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe). In The Birds of North America, No. 94 (A. Poole, and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.