Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is in the Tyrant Flycatchers family (Tyrannidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 98,110 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Eastern Phoebe: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Phoebe
The eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is a small passerine bird. The genus name Sayornis is constructed from the specific part of Charles Lucien Bonaparte's name for Say's phoebe, Muscicapa saya, and Ancient Greek ornis, "bird". Phoebe is an alternative name for the Roman moon-goddess Diana, but it may also have been chosen to imitate the bird's call.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Phoebe by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 28,456 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Florida | 7,948 | December | Oct–Mar |
| New York | 4,405 | October | Mar–Oct |
| Virginia | 3,717 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Georgia | 3,711 | October | Sep–Aug |
| North Carolina | 3,556 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Ohio | 3,370 | May | Mar–Sep |
| Maryland | 3,324 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 3,310 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 3,132 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Illinois | 2,667 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Vermont | 2,597 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Tennessee | 2,514 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Alabama | 2,117 | October | Sep–Jun |
| South Carolina | 1,995 | October | Oct–Jun |
| Minnesota | 1,798 | April | Apr–Sep |
| New Jersey | 1,700 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Arkansas | 1,493 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 1,477 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Maine | 1,446 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Michigan | 1,429 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 1,388 | April | Mar–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 1,374 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Missouri | 1,208 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Louisiana | 1,193 | November | Oct–Feb |
| Connecticut | 1,023 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Indiana | 819 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Mississippi | 653 | November | Oct–Feb |
| Kansas | 647 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Kentucky | 580 | April | Mar–Jul |
| West Virginia | 579 | May | Mar–Sep |
| California | 496 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Iowa | 321 | May | Mar–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 291 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 289 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Colorado | 271 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 259 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Nebraska | 212 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Mexico | 102 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Arizona | 88 | January | Oct–Feb |
| South Dakota | 65 | April | Apr–Jul |
| North Dakota | 33 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 15 | November | Sep–Nov |
| Washington | 13 | June | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 12 | April | Mar–May |
| Wyoming | 7 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 5 | April | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Black Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Say's Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Eastern Phoebe?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Eastern Phoebe most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, New York.