Say's phoebe is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family, Tyrannidae. A common bird across western North America, it prefers dry, desolate areas. It was named for Thomas Say, an American naturalist.
Region
Western North America
Typical Environment
Say's phoebe breeds across arid and semi-arid regions from Alaska and western Canada through the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain foothills into the southwestern United States and northern/central Mexico. It favors open country with sparse vegetation such as desert scrub, sagebrush flats, grasslands, badlands, and canyon rims. The species readily uses human-altered habitats, including ranchlands, agricultural margins, and towns, especially where perches and nest ledges are available. In winter, many individuals move southward within the western U.S. and into Mexico, frequenting similarly open, dry habitats. It generally avoids dense forests and heavily urbanized cores.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Say's phoebe is a hardy tyrant flycatcher adapted to dry, open landscapes from Alaska and western Canada to Mexico. It often nests on human-made structures like bridges and buildings, which has helped it expand in some areas. The species is named after American naturalist Thomas Say.
Say's phoebe in Cochise County, Arizona
Adult Say's phoebe hunting from a perch
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent sallies from exposed perches
Social Behavior
Pairs defend nesting territories, often reusing or refurbishing old nests on cliffs, ledges, or human structures. The cup nest is built from plant fibers and spider silk, sometimes incorporating hair. They are generally solitary outside the breeding season but may loosely associate in favorable feeding areas.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, descending whistles and burry phrases, often rendered as a downslurred pee-er followed by a pit-tee. Calls include sharp chips and soft whistled notes given from exposed perches.
