The Black Phoebe is a medium-sized flycatcher, about 16 cm (6.3 inches) in length and weighing 15 to 22 g (0.5 to 0.8 ounces). With its sharp black bill, black head and chest, and a bright white body, the Black Phoebe looks elegantly dressed for the ball! Its head is slightly peaked. You will see them bobbing their tails up and down while perched.
The Black Phoebe's beak allows hunting for beetles, flies, grasshoppers, damselflies, wasps, termites, and spiders. Nest are made of mud, lined with plant fibers, plastered to a vertical wall within an inch or so of an overlapping ceiling.
Black Phoebe's are always found near water and is often found at coastal cliffs, river/lake banks, or even park fountains. Their habitats must include a supply of mud for nest building.
Phoebes can often been seen nesting in human-made structures like bridges and sheds.
Photo by Nayib González on Unsplash