H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

Last week we had a break in the cold weather pattern and turned into a mid 70ºs warm and sunny. I was elated because a day like that invited me to shoot some pictures. I went for a second time and refilled the feeders and then got behind my camera and waited. In matter of minutes one by one birds began to show up and enjoy their meals. Amongst those birds I noticed one bird still shy to approach the deck. It was an Eastern Phoebe! What a pleasant surprise! I haven’t seen a phoebe in my backyard for at least 3 or 4 years!. Not long after just flying from one tree to another, the visitor decided to move closer and joined the feeding group. I had a great time shooting pictures! Next is some more interesting information about this bird.

The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is a small passerine bird. This tyrant flycatcher breeds in eastern North America, although its normal range does not include the southeastern coastal United States. It is migratory, wintering in the southernmost United States and Central America. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. This species appears remarkably big-headed, especially if it puffs up the small crest. Its plumage is gray-brown above. It has a white throat, dirty gray breast and buffish underparts which become whiter during the breeding season. Two indistinct buff bars are present on each wing. Its lack of an eye ring and wingbars, and its all dark bill distinguish it from other North American tyrant flycatchers, and it pumps its tail up and down like other phoebes when perching on a branch. The eastern phoebe’s call is a sharp chip, and the song, from which it gets its name, is fee-bee.

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Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101