Our autumn is now past its peak. The wind has come through in a rage, taking not just the leaves but some branches and trees as well.
Here, sitting in a Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) is an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe).
Dogwoods are so beautiful all year long. With their leaves gone and the berries still there, that adds up to extra beauty.
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Okay, to be honest, I’ve got many favorite birds – but this is one of them. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe). They are consumers of mostly flying insects, with a few that don’t fly, such as ticks, spiders and millipedes. That’s one reason for my vote as a favorite.
A bird that says its name, “Phoebe!” Almost identical to another bird that also says its name, the Eastern Wood-pewee. Listen to hear the difference, as it says, “Pewee!” Another difference, one that I depend on all the time, is the Eastern Phoebe’s flicking of its tail, up and then down, up and then down, most all the time.
The Eastern Phoebe often returns to its nest site year after year. Here at my cabin, places that have been chosen to build a nest have been under the eaves of the wood shop, at the crook of a down spout near the eaves of the cabin, and atop a light fixture on the porch. And some of these nests have been reused time and again.
My own personal insect eradicators.
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Look closely. In a near perfect camouflage, an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), is sitting in a Flowering Dogwood Tree (Cornus florida). Though it would seem the perfect spot for a little bird to stock up on some berries, this Phoebe feeds on insects and arthropods. They’ll also dive into water to catch minnows and other small fish from the surface of ponds. They don’t seem at all interested in these berries though.
This is an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) visiting my birdbath today.
There are three species of Phoebe that live in North America. The Eastern Phoebe lives in the mainly eastern portion of our continent from the Northwest Territories to Mexico. There is the Say’s Phoebe that lives in the western half of the continent from Alaska to Mexico. And the third, the Black Phoebe that lives on the western coast from Oregon to Mexico.
The Eastern Phoebe is a year-round resident here in the Blue Ridge Mountains where they are on insect duty, eating many insects, caterpillars, millipedes, spiders and other arachnids such as ticks. During the winter they eat berries and small fruits. Being insectivores, I really appreciate having them around.
Watching for a meal, on a post next to the garden. An Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, is a perfect friend to have around. A loner, even as mated pairs they spend little time together. A loner, finding insects to wolf down, she relies on insects for sustenance most of the year. When it is too chilly, and insects are hard to find, she resorts to eating berries.
Here on my mountain, she nests year after year in the same spot – under the eaves of the woodshop. It will be the female who builds her nest, or in this case repairs her nest as is necessary. She will lay 2 to 6 eggs in 1 or 2 broods. Normally I see 2 broods each year, and then – POOF – they are gone, with the exception of the one who will help me keep insects at bay.
