Phoebe (bird)
Phoebes | |
---|---|
Sayornis phoebe | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Tyrannidae |
Genus: | Sayornis Bonaparte, 1854 |
Species | |
See text. |
The genus Sayornis is a small group of medium-sized insect-eating birds in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae native to North and South America.
They prefer semi-open or open areas. These birds wait on a perch and then catch insects in flight, also sometimes picking them up from the ground. Their nest is an open cup sometimes placed on man-made structures.
They often slowly lower and raise their tails while perched.
The full list of species is:
- Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
- Black phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
- Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya