Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Explore this bird

Identification

17 cm (7") Common. Western North America. Along streams, farmyards, canyons, suburbs, towns, parks.

Junco-colored flycatcher; black head and body with a white belly. Tail bobbing habit. Nests near water.

Song: high thin "pee-wee, pee-wee".

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: Jason Stuck

Credit: mhawkins

Watch and learn

2 videos

Black Phoebe

Credit: Don DesJardin

Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans, Southern California

Credit: Melvin Wei

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 6

What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:882-black-phoebe:1:1 Source: 882 Black Phoebe, row 1