Sayornis saya
(Say's Phoebe)

Physical Description:
7-8" (18-20 cm). Gray above, lighter grayish-brown to breast, and orange belly. Dark eyes and bill. Immatures have two rufous wing bars.

Similar Species- Eastern Phoebe, Vermillion Flycatcher.

Song:
A down-slurred whistle, pwe-whurr, occasionally followed by a higher trill.

Distribution:
Breeds from Alaska and portions of western Canada, south to central Mexico. Winters from northern California, northern Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Texas, south to Baja California and south-central mainland of Mexico.

Habitat:
Found in arid, open country such as shrub steppe, dry barren foothills, canyons, cliffs, and around ranches.

Diet:
Eats insects (bees, wasps, ants, flies, beetles, butterflies, etc.) and other invertebrates (sow bugs, spiders, millipedes). Also feeds on some berries.

Ecology:
Builds cup-shaped nest on cliff, wall, bridge, or under eaves of buildings. forages by darting out from perch to capture prey in air; may also forage in foliage. Often Hovers in air.

Reproduction:
Female incubates 3-7 eggs (usually 4-5), for 12-14 days. Young are altricial and downy, are tended by both parents, and leave nest in about 14 days. Male may tend first brood while female renests.

Conservation:

Element Code:	ABPAE35030
Status:	Protected nongame species
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S5,NTMB
National Rank:	N4N,N5B

Important State References:
No references are available at this time.