Eastern Phoebe

The Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe) is a sparrow-sized tyrant flycatcher that breeds in Eastern North America, including Southern Ontario. During the breeding season, Eastern Phoebes build nests at the edges of waterways and forest clearings, rather than the forest interior. They build their nests on rocks, under bridges, in culverts and in the eaves of buildings. The nest is an open cup with a mud base that is lined with moss and grass.

Tyrant flycatchers are any of about 400 species of New World passerine birds, known as being aggressive insect-eaters of the family Tyrannidae.

The Eastern Phoebe is a loner, which only rarely comes in contact with other phoebes or even its mate. They may roost together a bit early in pair formation, but even during egg laying the female frequently chases the male away from her.

Eastern Phoebes feed primarily on insects, such as wasps, ants, flies, and wild bees. They also eat invertebrates like grasshoppers, spiders, hair worms from the water, and small fishes and crustaceans in shallow water. It may turn to fruit and few seeds, when insects are not readily available.

It is a migratory bird, which winters in the southernmost United States and Central America. This is one of the first birds to return to the breeding grounds in spring and one of the last to leave in the fall.

These photographs were taken in Southwestern Ontario, near the town of Grand Bend.

 

Nikon D300 DSLR Nikon AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8 lens +
TC-20E III 2x teleconverter on tripod with Jobu Black Widow HD gimbal head.
1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 320

 

Nikon D300 DSLR Nikon AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8 lens +
TC-20E III 2x teleconverter on tripod with Jobu Black Widow HD gimbal head. 1/400 sec,
f/5.6, ISO 320

© 2010 Russell G. Campbell
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