Say's Phoebe

The Say's Phoebe, Sayornis saya, is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family.

Related Topics:
Passerine - Bird - Tyrant flycatcher

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Adults have brownish-grey upperparts with an orange-brown belly and light grey on the throat and breast. Juveniles have cinnamon wing bars; adults have no wing bars.

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Their breeding habitat is dry open or semi-open areas across western North America from Alaska to Mexico, including towns. They make an open cup nest in a natural or man-made cavity or on a ledge.

Related Topics:
Habitat - North America - Alaska - Mexico

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These birds migrate to southern Mexico. They are permanent residents in the southern parts of their range.

Related Topics:
Migrate - Mexico

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They wait on a perch on a shrub or rock and fly out to catch insects in flight, also foraging by hovering over fields. They sometimes eat certain berries.

Related Topics:
Insect - Berries

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The song is a quick pit-see-ar. The call is a whistled pee-ee. These two vocalizations are often heard in incessant alternation.

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The numbers of this bird are declining, probably due to loss of habitat in its winter range.

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This bird was named for Thomas Say, the American naturalist.

Related Topics:
Thomas Say - American

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