Perch Supply
Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe. Flying insects; some berries in cold weather.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe
Scientific name
Sayornis phoebe
Length
5.5–6.7 in
Weight
0.6–0.7 oz
Nest
Mud-and-moss cup on a ledge under an overhang
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–6 eggs
Incubation
15–16 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Dusky brown-grey above, whitish below
  • Constantly pumps tail
  • Dark head, no eye-ring

Voice

Raspy 'fee-bee' repeated tirelessly.

Diet and feeding

Flying insects; some berries in cold weather.

What do eastern phoebes eat? · Best feeder for eastern phoebes

Eastern Phoebes by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaYear-round residentMarch–July
AlbertaSummer breederMay–July
ArkansasYear-round residentApril–July
ConnecticutSummer breederApril–July
DelawareSummer breederApril–July
FloridaYear-round residentMarch–July
GeorgiaYear-round residentMarch–July
IllinoisSummer breederApril–July
IndianaSummer breederApril–July
IowaSummer breederApril–July
KansasSummer breederApril–July
KentuckyYear-round residentApril–July
LouisianaYear-round residentMarch–July
MaineSummer breederMay–July
ManitobaSummer breederMay–July
MarylandSummer breederApril–July
MassachusettsSummer breederApril–July
MichiganSummer breederApril–July
MinnesotaSummer breederMay–July
MississippiYear-round residentMarch–July
MissouriSummer breederApril–July
NebraskaSummer breederApril–July
New BrunswickSummer breederMay–July
New HampshireSummer breederMay–July
New JerseySummer breederApril–July
New YorkSummer breederApril–July
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederMay–July
North CarolinaYear-round residentApril–July
North DakotaSummer breederMay–July
Northwest TerritoriesSummer breederMay–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederMay–July
OhioSummer breederApril–July
OklahomaYear-round residentApril–July
OntarioSummer breederMay–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederApril–July
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederMay–July
QuebecSummer breederMay–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederApril–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederMay–July
South CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–July
South DakotaSummer breederApril–July
TennesseeYear-round residentApril–July
TexasYear-round residentMarch–July
VermontSummer breederMay–July
VirginiaSummer breederApril–July
West VirginiaSummer breederApril–July
WisconsinSummer breederMay–July

Frequently asked

What do eastern phoebes eat?

Flying insects; some berries in cold weather. At feeders: mealworms.

How big is a Eastern Phoebe?

5.5–6.7 in long and 0.6–0.7 oz.

Do eastern phoebes use birdhouses?

No. Mud-and-moss cup on a ledge under an overhang.

Sources

  1. Eastern Phoebe — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Eastern Phoebe life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Eastern Phoebe — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.