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Eastern Phoebe

Status Uncommon transient, rare in summer. Breeds. The first record of a phoebe in Nova Scotia was reported by C.R. Harte (Macoun 1903), who saw a pair near Sydney on 30 August 1901. The bird was not recorded again until 1932, when W. Earl Godfrey saw one near Wolfville on 30 May. The first specimen was collected by Cyril Coldwell at Gaspereau, Kings County, on 15 April 1945. It was considered a great rarity at that time. Since then it has been widely seen with numbers of nests observed. The species generally first arrives before mid-April (average 10 April, earliest 25 March). During summer it has been found nesting widely but sparsely on the mainland, but not yet on Cape Breton Island. It is the last of our breeding flycatchers to depart. Peak movements have been recorded in October, with a few stragglers in November (average 18 October, latest 12 November). An amazing individual wintered at Ralph Johnson's feeder at Liverpool up to at least 4 February 1974, at times eating small seeds.

Description Length: 16.5-18 cm. Adults: Above brownish gray, distinctly darker on crown; wings and tail brownish black, wings without conspicuous bars; underparts white, washed with gray; bill black.

Breeding Nest: Bulky, composed largely of moss and mud, and lined with soft grass; placed on a beam or rafter in an abandoned building or in a culvert under a bridge. Eggs: 4-6; white, rarely with faint dots of cinnamon-brown. The first record of breeding was reported by Mrs. C.W. Dean, who found a nest at Carleton, Yarmouth County, in 1963. The next record was of a youngster being fed by a parent at Steam Mill Village, Kings County, on 15 July 1967. Since then it has been found nesting in all mainland counties except Antigonish and Guysborough.

Range Breeds from west-central Mackenzie Valley, southern Quebec, and Nova Scotia, southward to northern Georgia, Arkansas and eastern New Mexico. Winters from the southern edge of its breeding range to the Gulf Coast and Mexico.

Remarks It is called a "phoebe" because that is what it seems to say when it sings. The word is enunciated in a short, explosive fee-be, with a strong accent on the first syllable. Its call note is a sharp chip. It has a characteristic habit of tail wagging, which is helpful in identifying it in the field. Any flycatcher seen here in April is very likely of this species and sure to be if it wags its tail.