Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya Scientific name definitions

A bird of open country, Say's Phoebe is similar in behavior, size, and breeding biology to the Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) and Eastern Phoebe (S. phoebe), although its voice, coloration, and habitat preferences are distinctive. Dawson (1 Dawson, W. L. (1923). The Birds of California: A Complete, Scientific and Popular Account of the 580 Species and Subspecies of Birds Found in the State. Volume 2. South Moulton, San Diego, CA, USA. Close ) described its melancholy call as the most despondent of all the “pewees.” Its drab gray-brown back, black tail, and cinnamon-colored belly fade into the sage brush plains, barren foothills, and rimrock country where this species resides. Say's Phoebe breeds over much of western North America, from the Great Plains west nearly to the Pacific coast. Indeed, it has one of the broadest latitudinal ranges among North American flycatchers, extending from central Mexico farther north than any other into the arctic tundra, apparently constrained only by lack of suitable nest sites.

In the fall, northern populations of Say's Phoebe migrate south to overwinter in the southwestern United States and central Mexico, overlapping with southern residents. Compared to other western flycatchers, spring migration begins early for this species. It contends with cold weather and the scarcity of flying prey by hover-gleaning insects from the ground. Primarily insectivorous, it captures wild bees and wasps most frequently, but also flies, beetles, and grasshoppers, generally foraging from perches within 1–2 meters of the ground.

Like other Sayornis, this species shows strong nest-site tenacity. Typically monogamous and frequently double-brooded, it builds its nest (under a protective ceiling) on a rocky ledge or other supporting shelf, which often includes human-made structures. It frequently nests in abandoned buildings among prairie farms and western ranches. Its nest, typically constructed of grass, stems, moss, and other fibrous plant materials, differs from that of the Black Phoebe and Eastern Phoebe in that mud is rarely used in its construction. Nest completion and egg-laying typically occur in mid-March in Texas and late May in Alaska. The female incubates the clutch of 4 or 5 eggs for about 15 days, and young fledge about 17 days after hatching.

Say's Phoebe is the least studied of the Sayornis group. Anecdotal accounts make up a large portion of the literature concerning this species, but important work on the species' breeding biology and behavior has been undertaken in Texas (2 Ohlendorf, H. M. (1971). Competitive relationships among selected species of flycatchers (Tyrannidae) in Trans-Pecos Texas. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. Close , 3 Ohlendorf, H. M. (1976). Comparative breeding ecology of phoebes in Trans-Pecos Texas. Wilson Bulletin 88:255–271. Close ), Nevada (4 Ackerman, G. E. (1988). Anomalous nesting patterns of the Say's Phoebe, Sayornis saya, in southern Nevada. M.S. thesis, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA. Close ), and Kansas (5 Schukman, J. M. (1974). Comparative nesting ecology of the Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe and Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya in west-central Kansas. M.S. thesis, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA. Close , 6 Schukman, J. M. (1993). Breeding ecology and distribution limits of phoebes in western Kansas. Kansas Ornithological Society Bulletin 44:25–29. Close ). The dietary preferences of this species have been reported in some detail by Beal (7 Beal, F. E. (1912). Food of our important flycatchers. Biological Survey Bulletin 44. Close ) rangewide, Ohlendorf (3 Ohlendorf, H. M. (1976). Comparative breeding ecology of phoebes in Trans-Pecos Texas. Wilson Bulletin 88:255–271. Close ) in Texas, and Rosenberg et al. (8 Rosenberg, K. V., R. D. Ohmart, W. C. Hunter, and B. W. Anderson (1991). Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ, USA. Close ) in Arizona, and its foraging biology has received limited study by Ackerman (4 Ackerman, G. E. (1988). Anomalous nesting patterns of the Say's Phoebe, Sayornis saya, in southern Nevada. M.S. thesis, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA. Close ) in Nevada. Schukman et al. (9 Schukman, J. M., A. Lira-Noriega, and A. T. Peterson (2011). Multiscalar ecological characterization of Say’s and Eastern Phoebes and their zone of contact in the Great Plains. Condor 113:372–384. Close ) modeled niche relationships between Say’s Phoebe and Eastern Phoebe, focusing on their contact zone in the Great Plains. Behavior and vocal communication are little studied; limited attention was devoted to Say's Phoebe by Smith (10 Smith, W. J. (1970). Displays and message assortment in Sayornis species. Behaviour 37:85–112. Close , 11 Smith, W. J. (1970). Song-like displays in Sayornis species. Behaviour 37:64–84. Close ) in studies of Sayornis communication and behavior. Almost no information is available on the population dynamics, demography, physiology, energetics, and nutritional requirements of this species.