Eastern Phoebe
Photo: John Benson · CC BY 2.0

Tyrant Flycatchers and Allies

Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe

LCLeast Concern
Family
Tyrant Flycatchers and Allies (Tyrannidae)
Order
Passeriformes

Overview

The eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is a small passerine bird. The genus name Sayornis is constructed from the specific part of Charles Lucien Bonaparte's name for Say's phoebe, Muscicapa saya, and Ancient Greek ornis, "bird". Phoebe is an alternative name for the Roman moon goddess Diana, but it may also have been chosen to imitate the bird's call.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Breeds eastern Canada and USA; winters to southeastern Mexico.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.