Black Phoebes in Arizona

Black Phoebes live in Arizona all year. Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects.

Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.

Across Arizona, black phoebes typically nest from February–June. Nest site: mud cup on a wall or bridge near water. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubate for 15–17 days, and young leave the nest after 18–21 days.

Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.

• Black Phoebes don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as black cherry, american elderberry, chokecherry for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Of the regional native plants we track for Arizona, these 8 provide food or cover black phoebes use:

Always near water; builds mud nests under bridges and eaves.

• Best foods: .
• In Arizona's winter: Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow.

Full diet breakdown for black phoebes · Best feeder for black phoebes