General

Eastern Phoebe: Small flycatcher with dark gray-brown upperparts and slightly darker wings and tail. Underparts are pale with hint of olive-brown or yellow on sides and breast. Bill, legs, and feet are black. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Eastern Phoebe: Breeds in eastern North America, although its normal range does not include the southeastern coastal United States. Migratory, winters from the Ohio River to the Gulf Coast. Very rare vagrant to Western Europe. Preferred habitats include open woodland, farmland and suburbs, often near water.

Breeding and Nesting

Eastern Phoebe: Two to eight white eggs with occasional red brown spots are laid in a nest made of mud pellets covered with moss and lined with grass, weeds, leaves, hair, and feathers. Nest is normally built on top of an old nest, or attached to a building. Incubation is about 16 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Eastern Phoebe: Feeds on insects, small fish, berries, and fruits. Forages from atop tree branches and other perches, flying out to catch prey in mid-air; also gleans food from foliage, on the ground, and at the water surface.

Vocalization

Eastern Phoebe: Call is a "chip" or "FEE-be."

Similar Species

Eastern Phoebe: Eastern Wood-Pewee has two white wing bars, a different voice, darker underparts, yellow lower mandible, and does not pump tail.