Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans

Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans. Photograph taken in the greater Salton Sea area of Southern California, September 2013. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans. Photograph taken within the greater Alamos area, Alamos, Sonora, September 2019. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.

Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans. Photograph taken in the greater Santa Barbara area, Santa Barbara, California, September 2021. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans. Photograph taken in the greater San Diego area, San Diego, California, March 2023.

Background and Identification

The Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans, is a member of the Tyrannidae Family of Tyrant Flycatchers. This species is North America’s only small black-and-white flycatcher and is associated with water by birdwatchers and conservationists.  They are known for their tail-wagging behavior and sharp “tsip” sound in their call. In Mexico, they are known as Papamoscas Negro, which translates directly to “Black Flycatcher”. This name reflects the Black Phoebe’s appearance and characteristic diet and foraging behavior.

The Black Phoebe is a medium-sized flycatcher, it is about 16 cm (6.3 inches) long and has an average mass of 18 g (0.63 oz). The upper half of the Black Phoebe’s plumage is black and the bottom half is white. Black and white are the only two colors of the Black Phoebe, although sometimes the black appears as more of a dark brown, especially in juvenile individuals. Juveniles also have cinnamon-colored tips on their body feathers and wing-bars. The white on their belly forms an inverted V as it extends up into the lower breast. Their irises are brown and they have black legs, feet, and mandibles.

Habitat and Geographical Range

Black Phoebes prefer habitats with open areas for foraging and nearby structures for perching, including cliffs, buildings, and bridges. They are found close to various water sources in semi-open habitats in canyons, farmlands, streams, and towns. They primarily consume a wide variety of insects and on occasion, small fish.

Geographically, the range of the Black Phoebe extends from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to parts of South America. In the United States, they are commonly found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and along the Pacific coast. They are found throughout Mexico, except within the coastal areas of both the Atlantic Slope and the Pacific Slope in the extreme northern portions of the country at elevations below 3,000 m (9,840 feet).

Common Misidentifications

The black Phoebe can be confused with other dark flycatchers such as the Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, and the Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya. The Eastern Phoebe is primarily grey and brown and has less contrast between the upper and lower plumage colors of its body. This species lacks the bright white belly of the Black Phoebe. The Say’s Phoebe has a peachy orange belly and also lacks the bright white belly of the Black Phoebe. Observing the distinct black-and-white coloration and the typical tail-wagging behavior of the Black Phoebe can help avoid confusion.

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective the Black Phoebe is currently considered to be of Least Concern with widely distributed populations. In many areas, natural nest sites, such as sheltered rock faces, streamside boulders, and hollow tree cavities, have largely been diminished by the usage of artificial nest sites provided by human-made structures. The Black Phoebe has adapted well to this change, and breeding densities and offspring counts have increased in areas where the lack of suitable nest sites once limited breeding.