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Cornell Lab of Ornithology feeders
Ontario (winter only)
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Jennifer Meyer
Mission Viejo, CA, United States
A pair of black phoebes visit my yard daily for handouts of mealworms. Their black and white plumage may seem boring to some. But their personality is anything but boring. They sit on my patio looking into the kitchen window, sometimes hovering in front of it to get my attention. Since they are flycatchers, they catch tossed mealworms on the fly.
Week 6: Boring is Beautiful
Species: Black Phoebe
A black phoebe with "boring" black and white plumage.
Last year I was “adopted” by a Black Phoebe, who has chosen a nail under my eaves to perch on at night. Not a problem except that it’s right outside my sliding door to the backyard and it poops on my steps. It actually came back in spring with its mate and offspring to show me. Talk about personality! It’s back again this fall to use it’s perch. I was wondering two things, 1) is there a way to tell the male from the female?, and 2) will they use a “pre-made” nest (trying to think of a way to move it away from my back door). I think it likes this spot because it’s protected from wind and rain for the most part. I enjoy his daily visits and he even comes around when I call, phoebe!
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