|
Family: Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers
Description 7-8". Dusky head, breast, and back, with darker wings and black tail. Light rust-colored belly and undertail coverts.
Habitat Plains, sparsely vegetated countryside, dry sunny locations, often near ranch houses, barns, and other buildings.
Nesting 4 or 5 white eggs in a nest of grass and wool in a sheltered, elevated, dry site on a ledge, rock wall, or building.
|
|
Range Breeds from central Alaska, Yukon, and northern Mackenzie south through western mountains to Mexico; not present west of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada except locally in south-central California and western Oregon. Winters in California and Southwest southward.
Voice A mellow, whistled pee-ur with a plaintive quality.
Discussion Although primarily insect eaters (as are all flycatchers), Say's Phoebes will eat other foods, such as berries, during long spells of cold, inclement weather, when insects are unavailable.
|