Say's Phoebe

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) is in the Tyrant Flycatchers family (Tyrannidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 41,023 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.

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 Say's Phoebe: observations by month (U.S.)

About Say's Phoebe

The Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya) is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. A common bird in the western United States. It prefers dry, desolate areas. This bird was named for Thomas Say, the American naturalist.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Say's Phoebe by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe

Black PhoebeSayornis nigricans

Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus

Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis

Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus

Vermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinus

Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus

Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens

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