Say's Phoebe - - (Sayornis saya)

Wildlife Note Card Photography by Steven Holt

The Say's phoebe is named thrice, in genus, species and English common name, for Thomas Say, the entomologist who first described this phoebe on an US Calvary expedition to the Rocky Mountains in 1819. A flycatcher that prefers the open and arid areas of the west, it is easily identified by the rusty tone of its lower belly and by a habit it shares with other phoebes - the constant dipping of its tail when perched. The Say's phoebe breeds from Alaska to the Dakotas and south into central Mexico, normally laying four to five eggs in a cup-shaped nest that both parents construct from moss, grass and other vegetation. The nests are usually located inside cliff holes or on ledges with sheltering overhangs, but have been found inside buildings. The Say's Phoebe hunts insects in mid-air and also plucks them from the surface of streams and ponds when water is present. Stiff bristles beside its beak help bounce flying insects into its mouth. The phoebe also eats berries when they are available. ddds The Say's Phoebe is a widespread flycatcher preferring open and more arid areas of the west, breeding from Alaska to the Dakotas and south into central Mexico. Usually four to five eggs are laid in a cup shaped nest of moss grass and other vegetation. The nest is constructed by both parents inside a hole in a cliff, on a ledge under a sheltering overhang or sometimes inside a building. The Say's Phoebe is easily identified by the rusty tone of it's lower belly and like all phoebe's by the near constant habit of dipping its tail when perched. Hunting by sight from a perch or hovering flight, insects are plucked from the air, sometimes from just above the surface of a stream or pond. Stiff bristles beside the beak help bounce Insects into the mouth. Say's Phoebe's also eat berries when they are available. Named thrice, in genus, species and English common name for Thomas Say an entomologist who first described it on an 1819-20 US Cavalry expedition to the Rocky Mountains. The Say's Phoebe is a widespread flycatcher preferring open and more arid areas of the west, breeding from Alaska to the Dakotas and south into central Mexico. Usually four to five eggs are laid in a cup shaped nest of moss grass and other vegetation. The nest is constructed by both parents inside a hole in a cliff, on a ledge under a sheltering overhang or sometimes inside a building. The Say's Phoebe is easily identified by the rusty tone of it's lower belly and like all phoebe's by the near constant habit of dipping its tail when perched. Hunting by sight from a perch or hovering flight, insects are plucked from the air, sometimes from just above the surface of a stream or pond. Stiff bristles beside the beak help bounce Insects into the mouth. Say's Phoebe's also eat berries when they are available. Named thrice, in genus, species and English common name for Thomas Say an entomologist who first described it on an 1819-20 US Cavalry expedition to the Rocky Mountains. DLLDLD

Special thanks to Keith Iding for scanning the cards.