Life List 069
Visually documented
Say’s Phoebe
Sayornis saya
- First photographed
- June 19, 2026
- First location
- Colorado, United States
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
An evolving study
Say’s Phoebe portfolio
This collection grows as I return to photograph new behavior, habitat, seasons, and stages of life.
Natural history
Species at a glance
Sayornis saya
Overview
Say's Phoebe is a hardy western flycatcher of exposed, often arid landscapes. It nests on cliffs and sheltered ledges, including bridges and buildings, and repeatedly sallies from low perches for prey.
Identification
Gray-brown head and upperparts, dusky chest, warm cinnamon belly, and a black tail frequently dipped or wagged. The face is plain and the bill is thin and dark.
Range
Breeds from Alaska and western Canada through the western United States and Mexico. Northern populations migrate to the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Habitat
Desert, badlands, grassland, tundra edges, canyons, ranches, agricultural land, and open settlements with suitable ledges.
Diet
Flying and ground-dwelling insects and other small arthropods, occasionally supplemented by berries.
Photography by Brittany Templin
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