2015 Bonanza Bird #9: Eastern Phoebe

Today our Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition continues with a New World species of tyrant flycatcher: the Eastern Phoebe!

Birdorable Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebes are tyrant flycatchers that are found in eastern North America. These cuties are migratory, breeding as far north as the Northern Territories of Canada and spending the winter as far south as Central America.

Eastern Phoebes are one of three species of phoebe. The Black Phoebe and Say's Phoebe are also New World birds, though their ranges are further to the west. Phoebes are named for their song, which sounds like "fee-bee".

The Eastern Phoebe has a place in ornithological history: it was the first North American species to be "banded" for science. In 1803 John James Audubon himself placed silver thread around the legs of young Eastern Phoebes, which he knew at Pewee Flycatchers at the time, at his Pennsylvania home. He hoped to track the future movements of the birds. The following season he was able to capture two returning birds that still wore the silver thread.

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Eastern Phoebe by David Mitchell (CC BY 2.0)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Eastern Phoebe by Amy Evenstad for Birdorable
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe by Kelly Colgan Azar (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The Eastern Phoebe is our 625th Birdorable bird. Be sure to check out our collection of apparel and gifts featuring the Birdorable Eastern Phoebe!

Our Bonanza continues tomorrow with a North American woodpecker with two distinct subspecies best identified by their undersides. Can you guess tomorrow's species?

Cute Eastern Phoebe Gifts from Birdorable

Comments

???c????? ????? (White-throated Sparrow) on December 9, 2015 at 3:23 PM wrote:
Ok.... I didn't know that... At least it had "Eastern" in its name... i guess? And btw for the mystery bird, Northern Flicker. I've been waiting forever for that bird
Louise Warner on April 3, 2017 at 8:38 AM wrote:
red bellied woodpecker or northern flicker?
Louise Warner on April 3, 2017 at 8:41 AM wrote:
what's a golden breasted starling?
Spurwing Plover on May 26, 2022 at 7:15 AM wrote:
Eastern Kingbird done fool around with the Eastern Kingbird I once read of one attacking a Airplane
Spurwing Plover on June 5, 2022 at 6:57 PM wrote:
Eastern Phoebe will Build their nests on a back poarch

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