Sayornis nigricans
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a strikingly elegant New World flycatcher, instantly recognizable by its bold, contrasting plumage and characteristic tail-wagging. Measuring approximately 16 cm (6.3 inches) in length with a wingspan of 26-30 cm (10-12 inches) and weighing 15-22 grams (0.5-0.8 ounces), it sports a sleek, sooty black head, back, and breast that sharply contrasts with its pristine white belly and undertail coverts. A key identification mark is its habit of constantly wa...
Black Phoebes are intrinsically tied to water, preferring riparian zones, streams, rivers, ponds, and coastlines, often in close proximity to human structures for nesting. They can be found from sea level up to elevations of over 3,000 meters in montane regions.
Primarily insectivorous, Black Phoebes feast on a wide variety of flying insects caught in mid-air, including flies, bees, wasps, beetles, and moths, occasionally supplementing their diet with small fish, tadpoles, or berries.
Highly diurnal, Black Phoebes spend their days actively foraging, often perching conspicuously on low branches or structures near water, then retreating to secluded roosts at night. Their primary foraging strategy is "sallying": they launch from a perch, snatch insects mid-air with agile turns an...
The Black Phoebe's extensive range spans across Western North America, Central America, and into parts of South America, primarily as a year-round resident. In North America, its breeding range extends from southwestern Oregon, through California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, south thr...
Least Concern
- The Black Phoebe's constant tail-wagging, moving up and down, is a distinctive and often mesmerizing behavior unique among most passerines. - They are expert aerial insectivores, capable of snatching small insects from the air with incredible agility, often returning to the exact same perch. - ...