Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sayornis ("Thomas Say's bird") phoebe (possibly onoematopaic for call?)

Adult  Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) at Valley View, Illinois, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 16-21g  /  Length: 14-17cm  /  Wingspan: 26-28cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly widespread species of woodland, particularly near water - they have adjusted well to the Anthropocene due to their ability to utilise human structures to nest and have increased in population since the middle of last century. They are primarily insctivores, taking much of their prey on the wing when stooping from an exposed perch.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Sayornis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in Eastern half of the US, breeding in north east, wintering in south east, resident between.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sayornis ("Thomas Say's bird") nigricans ("blackish")

Adult Black Phoebe (subspecies S. n. semiatra) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Sayornia nigricans semiatra
Weight: 15-22g  /  Length: 16cm  /  Wingspan: 27-28cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

To me as a European birder, the Black Phoebe is a fascinating example of parralel evolution - there is something so familiarly wagtail like in it's behaviour and preferred habitats, appearance and most notably the wagging tail. The Black Phoebe reaches the very north of it's range in California, being largely found in Mexico and Central America.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Sayornis
SUBSPECIES: S. n. semiatra, S. n. nigricans, S. n. aquatica, S. n. amnicola, S. n. angustirotris, S. n. latirostris

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in Coastal California and around the US-Mexico Border
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  Berkeley and San Jose

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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