Eastern Phoebe - Ross Feldner This active little bird with a bobbing tail sings out its name noisily and constantly. You will probably hear its “fee-bee,” “fee-bee” before you ever see this modestly colored member of the highly territorial Tyrant Flycatcher family that actively defends its nesting grounds. Eastern Phoebes use the sit and wait hunting strategy. Sitting on a high perch they pursue their prey on the wing, deftly snatching an insect and often returning to the same perch seconds later. They favor beetles, sawflies, wasps, bees, moths, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and crickets. Phoebes prefer to nest near water since it means plenty of flying insects for hungry chicks. They look for overhanging structures to provide protection from the elements and will happily use human constructions like barns, eaves and porches. | |
