“FEE-BEE!!” Many Mainers look forward to this raspy song each spring. Eastern Phoebes spend the winter in the southern United States and Mexico, and are early migrants back to the Northeast. These large flycatchers are dark gray with nearly black heads and light undersides that often show a faint yellow wash. Their large eyes—typical of flycatchers—help them find flying insects, which they snatch on the wing in open spaces like meadows and lawns. The sky is a phoebe’s buffet, but they also glean ticks, making them handy neighbors for mammals like us. Spot phoebes on a branch, fence, or wire, pumping their long tails and scanning for food. While many birds wag their tails in the presence of a predator (“I see you! Don’t waste your time!”), the phoebes’ constant pumping is thought to be a clever “just in case” tactic, sending a message to anyone who might be watching.
Their memorable songs vary among individuals, and while these differences are subtle, they allow birds to identify each other. Eastern Phoebes can be distinguished from similarly-colored Dark-eyed Juncos by their small black beaks, long tails, and perches a few feet up or higher (juncos forage on the ground). Phoebes nest on sheltered ledges, including cliffs, bridges, barns, and houses.
If you find an Eastern Phoebe nest with an odd speckled egg thrown in, that may be the work of a Brown-headed Cowbird. They are brood parasites that lay eggs in the nests of other species. While humans may feel an urge to protect the phoebes when this happens, it’s important to note that Brown-headed Cowbirds are native and protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prevents harm to birds and destruction of eggs or nests. Thankfully, Eastern Phoebes typically lay a second clutch in the same nest one to two weeks after the first chicks fledge. Their breeding season in the Northeast is from late April until early July.
