What is a Phoebe?
By Mike • October 5, 2006 • 20 commentsWhen the word “phoebe” comes up, most people automatically think of things like the outermost of Saturn’s known satellites, the Greek Titan-goddess of the moon, or the most fascinating and complex character from that happily departed sitcom, Friends. Anyone who has gone bird watching in North America, however, knows another kind of phoebe, a bold little genus that turns up with remarkable frequency from the arctic circle to the equator.
Eastern Phoebe
Phoebes are proud members (at least they seem so) of the Family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. These New World flycatchers are almost uniformly aggressive insectivores, but vary widely in size and plumage. Of the more than 400 tyrannids, as birds in this family are sometimes called, only three belong to the genus Sayornis, the phoebes. However, what the phoebes lack in diversity they more than make up for in personality.
The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is common everywhere in the U.S. that might even vaguely be considered the East, and other parts besides. This bird is almost certainly the most common flycatcher within its range. It is also one of the most recognizable with its rounded head and telltale tail pump. Bigger than an Empidonax flycatcher and smaller than a Myiarchus, the Eastern Phoebe is usually only mistaken for a pewee, and even that becomes unlikely with experience. This phoebe of phoebes is considered a loner as far as its own kind is concerned, but doesn’t appear to mind human presence. In fact, this is one species that seems to thrive in the face of rampant development.
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) won’t be mistaken for any other bird; nothing else that size shows such dark plumage with a white belly to contrast. This phoebe is a fixture in the American Southwest and Central America and can be spotted all the way down to Argentina. Black Phoebes eat bugs with the same gusto as any other flycatcher, but will also go after tiny fish.
Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) is the most colorful of the phoebes, gray above but a smart buffy orange below. It’s also the hardiest, breeding as far north as the Alaskan arctic, much further north, in fact, than any other flycatcher. Looking at its range map, this phoebe seems to have split the U.S. with its eastern cousin. Say’s Phoebe is named for the noted American naturalist, Thomas Say, who provided the first official descriptions of this bird and a number of other western species. One might find it ironic that Say, considered the founder of descriptive entomology in the United States, has a bird named for him, but the fact that Say’s Phoebe is a flycatcher seems rather poetic.
Black Phoebe
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[...] I give you a gripping story full of blood and brains, which should really be filed under molecular and cellular biology. But I couldn’t justify a neuroscience category with just one entry, so I’ve categorized it as neuroscience so that I can include a pic of a brain! EcologyDaniel, a Down To Earth kind of guy, discusses a study which investigates the effects of drought on pinyon pine populations in southwest North America.At the new-look 10,000 Birds, Mike gives us the lowdown on phoebes. Jane gives us a short post on the relationship between kudzu, hurricanes and soaybean rust, from her blog, Perceiving Wholes. [...]
[...] Phoebe: Okay, my favorite Phoebe is not actually a bird, but a small person. With no feathers. But phoebes, such as the Eastern Phoebe, are birds. With feathers and everything. [...]
my friend found a baby black phoebe and he let me take care of it…what can i feed her? plz answer
@parakeets: If the bird is capable of flight let it go. Otherwise, small portions of ground beef (you might have to force it into the bird’s mouth until it learns to eat it) until you can get the bird to a wildlife rehabilitater.
Hello, I accidently ended up with a nest full of baby black phoebes. There are six of them and I would say they are maybe a day to 2 days old. I tried putting the nest up high where it was originally but the parents never approached the babies again, so I started feeding them. I have baby bird food that I feed my baby cockatiels. Now I am finding out that they are insect eaters, what do I do now? What do I feed them an how do I care for them?? Incubator?? Do you think the parents would of eventually come around and fed them? Please, any info will be very much appreciated! Thank you, Heather:)
Heather. if the birds still need to be cared for and you know where the parents are, leave the nest there. The parents are not at all put off by the scent of humans, but they probably won’t approach the birds in your presence. If you’re going to try to feed them, consider Corey’s suggestion above of ground beef. You should also consider contacting your local bird rehabilitation center for more information. Good luck!
Our phoebes (NH) are feeding off the ground which I’ve never seen them do before. We seem to have fewer mosquitos this year and assume they have inadequate insects to eat. Is there anything I can put out for them to eat?
I’m not sure, Paul. Phoebes catch most of their meals on the wing and apparently will dine on crawling insects but I’m not sure what kind of food you could tempt them with. I wouldn’t worry - phoebes seem to be rather adaptable survivors.
Hello,
I am raising a baby Phoebe.
I have been feeding him soaked dog food and fly’s,but this morning he is not doing well.
What do I feed him?
I have raised meney birds with the same thing.
Um.
I need some help here,
he’s looking worse by the minuet !!!!!
Natalie, if ground beef, dog food, or flies won’t do the trick, I’m not sure what to suggest. Is there a wildlife rehabilitation center in your area that you can call?
Hi Natalie, I just finished hand feeding 6 baby phoebes and I used Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula. You should be able to find it at any of your local pet supply stores, I just recently bought a container of it at Petco. Kaytee Exact has all of the protein and nutrients that any baby bird needs. I am not sure how old your baby is but I use a small plastic syringe for feeding. Good Luck to you and your baby Phoebe, let me know how it goes.
Heather:)
Hi Heather,
Thanks for the information,it is much appreciated.
My bird’s name is Cheerio and he is about 2 week’s old now and he has almost all his feathers,
he is a eastern Phoebe, and I have had him for a week now.
Oh, and I was wondering about the ground beef, is there any special brand I need to get?
Thanks again!
Hi Natalie,
I am assuming that your baby Pheobe is doing well now, I am so glad! I am not sure about the ground beef, I never fed any of my babies ground beef or anything else besides the Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula and millet sprays. As soon as they started picking at the millet and fruit I would give them, I decided it was time to release them. They know live in the palm tree in my front yard and dive bomb us when we are in the pool. They are always around, it’s great!
Good Luck with Cherrio and if you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
Heather:)
Yes Heather,
Cheerio is doing much better, he is learning to sit on my finger now and is eating like crazy,
I started feeding him a different kind of dog food, so that could have made the difference.
Have you raised any other birds,I have raised,a starling,and some kind of sparrow (We never knew what he was) and a few others, and now Cheerio.
I could send you some photos of them if you want.
If so my email is backonthetrail@gmail.com
I wold love to send you some photos of my last bird (he was a phoebe to) he was crippled but he was special.
I would love to keep in touch.
Natalie.
Just wanted to share this:
‘The Need of Being Versed in Country Things’
The house had gone to bring again
To the midnight sky a sunset glow.
Now the chimney was all of the house that stood,
Like a pistil after the petals go.
The barn opposed across the way,
That would have joined the house in flame
Had it been the will of the wind, was left
To bear forsaken the place’s name.
No more it opened with all one end
For teams that came by the stony road
To drum on the floor with scurrying hoofs
And brush the mow with the summer load.
The birds that came to it through the air
At broken windows flew out and in,
Their murmur more like the sigh we sigh
From too much dwelling on what has been.
Yet for them the lilac renewed its leaf,
And the aged elm, though touched with fire;
And the dry pump flung up an awkward arm;
And the fence post carried a strand of wire.
For them there was really nothing sad.
But though they rejoiced in the nest they kept,
One had to be versed in country things
Not to believe the phoebes wept.
–Robert Frost
Heather, thanks so much for helping out with Natalie’s question.
Paul, thanks for the fantastic verse.
I am so excited to have Mr & Mrs Phoebe in my yard. We had a pond/waterfall put in last year and they have been visiting us since. And I think they like it because they have built a nest. Up under an eave and hidden from all. Made of mud and grass. I think she recently layed her eggs. I be keeping my eyes out for those little guys when they get here. And I think they are territorial because they chase other birds away from the pond. They think it’s theres alone. Funny birds to enjoy in the backyard.
Hi, just found few day old phoebe’s. I’m trying to get bugs into their tiny mouths - much more difficult than you’d think. Any suggestions? Can I feed them worms?
@Renee: I would suggest contacting a wildlife rehabilitator: if you google search you should be able to find one near you. I imagine that if you can’t get bugs into their mouths that chunks of earthworms can substitute until you can get the bird to a person who knows what they are about when it comes to raising birds.