Photo: John J. Mosesso, NBII / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 18.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Sayornis
- Species nigricans
Where it lives
Western USA to northwestern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Phoebe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Phoebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) belongs to the Tyrannidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA w USA to nw Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 7.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Phoebe?
The Black Phoebe is a small bird that weighs around 18.6 g.
Where does the Black Phoebe live?
The Black Phoebe is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA w USA to nw Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black Phoebe belong to?
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Phoebe eat?
The Black Phoebe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black Phoebe migrate?
The Black Phoebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Phoebe endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Phoebe make?
1 real field recording of the Black Phoebe — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Phoebe's range?
The Black Phoebe has a mapped global range of about 3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Tyrannidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
More in Songbirds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Tyrannidae
A field guide to the Tyrannidae family — 444 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.