Sayornis saya
This large, handsome flycatcher is a very early spring migrant that frequently reuses its nesting sites. It often builds its nest under a ledge, where it is shielded from harsh weather. The Say's Phoebe is frequently encountered in the western foothills around ranch buildings and other structures. It flycatches insects from a low perch. This species is the only bird whose genus and species names are derived from the same person, Thomas Say, a versatile naturalist whose primary contributions were in the field of entomology. The name 'phoebe' comes from the call of a close relative, the Eastern Phoebe. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: apricot belly and undertail coverts; dark tail; brown-gray breast and upperparts; dark head; no eye ring; very faint wing bars. Size: L 71/2 in. (19 cm). Range: rare migrant and summer resident in the Canadian and northern U.S. Rockies; very rare in the southern U.S. Rockies; historical breeder in Yellowstone NP. Habitat: open areas and shrublands, often near cliffs or buildings, in the montane and the subalpine. Nesting: in a cavity on a cliff face, on beams, or under a bridge, eave or other structure; nest is made with grass, moss and fur; female incubates 4-5 eggs for up to 17 days. Feeding: flycatches for aerial insects; also gleans buildings and vegetation for insects. Voice: call is a softly whistled pee-ter or pee-ur; song is pitseedar. Similar Species: Flycatchers: all lack the apricot belly. Townsend's Solitaire lacks the apricot belly; salmon color in the wings and tail. |
