The Black Phoebe 
or projecting corner of bridge, barn, or outbuilding, or upon ledge of shale-bank, etc. 
Eggs: 4 to 6; white (unmarked), or, rarely, sparsely dotted with reddish brown. 
Av. size 19 x 14.5 (.75 x .57). 
General Range. —Eastern North America; breeding from central Texas and 
the northern hilly portions of the Gulf States north to Quebec, southern Keewatin, 
and southwestern Mackenzie; wintering from about the 37th parallel of latitude south 
to southern Mexico; accidental in California and Cuba. 
Occurrence in California. —Accidental. Two records: San Fernando, Feb. 
14, 1901; and Moss Landing, Monterey County, March 7, 1913. 
Authorities.—Swarth, Condor, vol. iii., 1901, p. 66 (San Fernando Valley, 
Feb. 14, 1901, one spec.); Brooks, Condor, vol. xv., 1913, p. 182 (Moss Beach, near 
Pacific Grove, Monterey Co., March 7, 1913, one spec.). 
WE WERE pretty well fixed for Phoebes as it was—though of course 
we are glad to welcome all of them. With Sayornis sayns and 5. nigricans 
already on the ground, Sayornis phoebe , represented in California by 
two “accidentals,” completes the muster roll of Mr. Say’s birds. 
Small wonder that this intrepid flycatcher should wish to prospect 
our pleasant land. They treat him shamefully in the East. Having 
lured him North in early March, or even February, by treacherous 
promises of springtime and harvest of flies, when they hear his first 
trustful notes, they begin to blow at him with icy breath. They kill 
his vassal flies at a blast; they mercilessly pelt him with sleet, or bury 
his promised kingdom under a blanket of snow. He, poor soul, takes 
shelter under a bridge or a sheltering bank, and says tsip-tsip, discon¬ 
solately, while he tries to warm his toes. Such of their number as survive 
this Spartan discipline become the most familiar and confiding of farm¬ 
yard pensioners; but their plaintive “Phoebe” notes seem always to pre¬ 
serve the recollection of unmerited hardships. 
No. 170 
Black Phoebe 
A. O. U. No. 458 . Sayornis nigricans (Swainson). 
Description. — Adult: General color slaty black, paling slightly on scapulars 
and rump, the greater coverts and secondaries edged with pale buffy brown or whitish; 
belly and crissum abruptly white (the line of separation between black and white A- 
shaped); the outer web of outer pair of tail-feathers narrowly white; the lining of wings 
chiefly white. Bill and feet black; iris brown. Young birds are more sooty and have 
rusty or brownish edgings on wing-coverts, lower back, and rump, and a rusty stain 
along posterior margin of black below. Length about 165.1 (6.50); wing 91.5 (3.60); 
tail 80 (3.15); bill 15.5 (.61); tarsus 18.4 (.72). Females average smaller. 
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