Black Phoebes in Texas

Black Phoebes live in Texas all year. Hard freezes are brief outside the Panhandle, so most feeder birds face heat and drought stress more than cold. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects.

Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.

Across Texas, 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.

Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.

• Black Phoebes don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as live oak, flowering dogwood, serviceberry for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

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

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

• Best foods: .
• In Texas's winter: Hard freezes are brief outside the Panhandle, so most feeder birds face heat and drought stress more than cold.

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