Say's Phoebe

This spring for the first time we have been lucky to have a Say’s Phoebe present in our Aldea backyard. These wonderful flycatchers are mostly solitary except during breeding season. They have a pleasant demeanor that is curious about people on some level, at least this particular one is I have observed. This one guards or watches over the birdbaths, similar to the way the Black Phoebe behaved in our San Francisco backyard.

The Say’s Phoebe swiftly flies up from a perch as they efficiently catch flying bugs from a watchful perch. They hover above grasses when hunting in open areas.

This quite active and animated bird has gray-brown upper parts and head with a pale golden-rufous belly and under tail. This particular bird calmly allowed me to photograph it through the kitchen window.

The bird was named for Thomas Say, the American naturalist. They are a summer resident of Aldea but winter not far from here in the southern half of New Mexico and down into most of Mexico.

Say’s Phoebe’s are monogamous. The Say’s Phoebe is in decline due to loss of winter habitat and suitable habitat in breeding areas. A group of flycatchers is known as an “outfield”, “swatting”, “zapper”, and “zipper” of flycatchers.

Click to enlarge photos.