Black Phoebes in California

Black Phoebes live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects.

Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.

Across California, 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.

Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.

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

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

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

• Best foods: .
• In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.

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