| Black Phoebe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Genus: | Sayornis |
| Species: | Sayornis nigricans |
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a suboscine bird in the family Tyrannidae.
Description[]
This bird measures an average of 16 cm in length and weighs 22 grams. Unlike other tyrant flycatchers, it has a very contrasting dark brown or black plumage on the head, chest, back, wings and tail, and white on the belly and under the wings. There is no sexual dimorphism present in this species.
Voice[]
Its song is a repetition of ti-wee, pee-teeer, fi-bee or te-hee, and its call is similar to that of the Eastern Phoebe.
Behavior[]
Feeding[]
The Black Phoebe searches out for insects from a shelter near water bodies, and then catches them in flight. At some point, it also hunts for small fish near the surface of the water.
Breeding and Nesting[]
The Black Phoebe is a monogamous species. Pairs begin to form in January, ending in late February. The male, wanting to attract the female's attention, flies towards her with a fluttering flight. If the female accepts it, she lowers her head and raises her feathers. The male hovers in the air next to her. The courtship display is a flight with an unfolded tail and flapping wings, zigzag-like or spiral, while performing songs.
The place for the nest is chosen by the female, and she also builds it. It is attached to a wall at a height of approximately 1.8–4.8 meters (6–15 feet) above the ground. It often builds a nest on the stringers of bridges, because it is safe above water. At the beginning of its construction, the female sticks mud pellets to the wall, forming an arch. The rest of the cup-shaped structure is also mud, mixed with grass, dry plant fragments and hair. The interior is lined with plant fibers, feathers and bristles. Construction of the nest takes 5 to 21 days. The clutch consists of 2 to 7 eggs laid and incubation lasts 15 to 18 days. The food with which the young are fed does not differ significantly from the diet of adult birds. They are fully fledged 14–21 days after hatching.
Distribution and Habitat[]
The Black Phoebe is found in the Americas, distributed from western US to northwest Argentina, and it is sedentary in most parts of its range. Its habitats are related to water, with the preferred habitat being the trees growing on the banks of the rivers.