# Eastern Phoebe (*Sayornis phoebe*)

The Eastern Phoebe is a small, gray bird that loves to catch insects in the air. They are often seen perched on fences or branches, singing their cheerful song.

- **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 64
- **Habitat:** Urban areas, forests

![Eastern Phoebe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sayornis_phoebe_-Owen_Conservation_Park%252C_Madison%252C_Wisconsin%252C_USA-8.jpg&width=800)

Photo: John Benson, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sayornis_phoebe_-Owen_Conservation_Park%252C_Madison%252C_Wisconsin%252C_USA-8.jpg)

## Appearance

The Eastern Phoebe is a small, plain bird with a dull gray-brown back and a whitish belly. It lacks any prominent wing bars or eye-rings, making it appear quite subtle. Its most distinctive visual trait is its constantly twitching tail, which it pumps up and down while perched.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Passeriformes
- **Family:** Tyrannidae
- **Genus:** Sayornis

## Interesting facts

- Wow! A phoebe's nest can look like a mossy cup, often stuck to a wall!
- Wow! Eastern Phoebes are often one of the very first birds to announce spring's arrival!
- Wow! They can catch many insects each hour, like a living fly swat!
- Wow! They sometimes use the exact same nest location year after year!

## Special abilities

- **Aerial Hunter:** Eastern Phoebes can catch flying insects in mid-air because of their excellent vision and quick darting flight.
- **Tail Twitcher:** Eastern Phoebes has a unique tail-wagging habit that helps them identify themselves to others.
- **Early Bird Migrant:** Eastern Phoebes can arrive in northern breeding grounds very early in spring because they tolerate cooler weather.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 14-17 cm
- **Wingspan:** 26-29 cm
- **Weight:** 0.015-0.022 kg
- **Lifespan:** 2-10 years
- **Speed:** 40 km/h
- **Clutch Size:** 3-8
- **Incubation:** 15-16 days
- **Migration Distance:** 2000 km

## Diet & Feeding

These birds mostly eat flying insects, catching them right out of the air!

- **Primary Foods:** Flies, Beetles, Wasps, Moths, Caterpillars, Spiders
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Catches adult honey bees in flight for food.
- **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — A common avian predator of adult and young phoebes.
- **Eaten by:** Eastern Ratsnake (*Pantherophis obsoletus*) — Raids phoebe nests for eggs and hatchlings.

## Collections

- [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and do not disturb their nests.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Eastern Phoebe?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Eastern Phoebe?

14-17 cm

### What is Eastern Phoebe's wingspan?

26-29 cm

### How much does Eastern Phoebe weigh?

0.015-0.022 kg

### How long does Eastern Phoebe live?

2-10 years

### How fast can Eastern Phoebe move?

40 km/h

### What does Eastern Phoebe eat?

These birds mostly eat flying insects, catching them right out of the air!

### Where is Eastern Phoebe usually found?

Urban areas, forests

## Where to spot

- [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood
- [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District
- [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest
- [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District
- [Burke Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burke-lake-park) — Virginia, US · Park
- [Chesham](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesham) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District

[View all places to see Eastern Phoebe](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-phoebe)

## More Birds

- [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*)
- [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*)
- [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*)
- [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*)

---

Source: [Eastern Phoebe: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-phoebe)