Say’s Phoebe

Say's Phoebe

The Say’s Phoebe is a gardener’s best friend because they are fly-catchers.

Latin name: Sayornis saya

Length, wingspan: 7.5″, 13″

What they eat: Insects

Habitat: Open areas

Where they nest: Buildings, ledges

My observations: While the little Say’s Phoebe isn’t exactly flashy, I like seeing them in my garden. That’s because they make a living catching both flying and ground-dwelling insects. A gardener can always use help in that regard, right? Smaller than a robin but larger than a finch, these fly-catchers have buff-colored tummies, with the rest of their feathers being gray. We have seen the Say’s Phoebe during the spring and summer months only.

For more details about this bird, go to Cornell’s All About Birds website.

Back to My Backyard Birds