Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe

This tail-wagging bird arrives in the very early spring. It is the first species to have been banded in North America. It was an experiment conducted by John James Audubon, who in 1804 attached silver threads to the legs of young phoebes and found two that returned the following spring still wearing those threads.

Look For : A grayish-green flycatcher with a dark head; whitish underparts and throat. Lacks the eye ring and wing bars seen on similar species.

Length : 6-7".

Habitat : Streamsides, woods, suburbs.

Range : Summer: Canada and much of U.S. east of Rocky Mountains. Winter: southeastern U.S. and Mexico.