Following Phoebes

When inspiring new birders, Phoebes (like hummingbirds) provide a great introduction. They're distinct, steady migrators, and brave flyers that will dive for flies unconcerned with human nearness. I've sent many young or new birders on the task of finding the beautiful, high contrast, black and white bellied, swooping bird. They usually come back to me excited and hooked on spotting more, and more birds.

My constant winged beauty, these snappy little insectivores migrate from Southwest Oregon to South America. They're as smart as they are beautiful and unlike many other birds are not sexually dimorphic (females and males look the same). When setting up their nests, the male will hover over possible nesting spots while the female makes the final choice as to where they will build their cup-shaped mud nest. 

Collective nouns for Phoebes are, a "zapper," a "zipper," a "swatting," or a "outfield." If you ever see a phoebe, just sit for a while and listen. When catching flies, you can hear a little snapping sound.

They are a wonderfully constant bird. Finding an area they like and regularly returning to that spot, "remaining year-round in an established territory (iBird Pro)."  Find a Phoebe near you. Listen, watch, and fall in love.