A MEFICA N ORNI THO LOGY. 1 8 1 



PHOEBE. 



A- <)• I'- No. 45() (Sayornis plioebe.) 



RANGE. 



The Phoebe is found from the Rocky Mountains eastward and from 



the British provinces southward. They winter along the Gulf coast 



and breed throughout their range in the upper half of the United States. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 7 in.; extent, 11 in.; tail, 3 in. Bill and feet, black. Eye 

 brown. Upper parts brownish gray, very dark on the head, almost 

 black. Under parts dull white, the sides grayish, this color sometimes 

 extending across the breast. The outer tail feather, secondaries and 

 coverts edged with white. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



Early in May the Phoebe builds its nest of mud, twigs and moss. 

 The nests are located on the rafters of buildings, under bridges, or on 

 narrow shelves of ledges. Four or five plain white eggs are laid 

 although frequently a set will be found that has more or less numerous 

 specks of black, mostly towards the larger end. 



) 



HABITS. 



A plain colored, demure looking bird. He shares with the Robin, 

 Bluebird, and Blackbird, the honor of being the first arrival from the 

 winter quarters. Were it not for his energetic voice he would pass 

 unnoticed among the numerous other birds that are found in the same 

 haunts. He is a very interesting bird and after having watched him 

 for some time and listened to his emphatic "phoebe, phoebe", each 

 syllable being accompanied by a f^irt of the tail, and accented now on 

 the first syllable, now on the last, we begin to wonder why Phoebe 

 does not answer his entreaties or as he seems so anxious to see her, 

 why he does not look her up. This is not Phoebe's only note for I 

 have heard a low sweet, affectionate trill as he hovered for an instant 

 before the ledge where Mrs. Phoebe was silently sitting. 



The Phoebes are devoted to old associations and will make their 

 home in the same place year after year. I know of more than a dozen 

 locations within two miles of home where I can depend upon finding a 



