Adult

Description

Size:  7”

Plumage/Description: 
Male and female plumage similar.  Black head, throat chest, back, wings, tail, white belly and under-tail coverts. Thin, sharp beak used to catch insects.  Juvenile plumage similar to adult except juveniles have a rusty/chestnut color on black wings and back.

Habitat:  Usually observed near a source of water, but occasionally will be found in agricultural settings or around horse property where there are abundant flying insects.

Time of year:  Year-round, more abundant in summer than winter.

Relative Abundance: 
Common.

Behavior: 
Insect eater.  Fairly follow, easy to locate due to frequent vocalization.  Uses a hawking behavior of flying out from an
open, exposed perch to catch insects in flight.  Frequently pumps its tail when perched.

Diet:  Insects.

Similar species:  Plumage wise nothing, size and behavior wise Say’s Phoebe and other flycatcher species.

Best Sites:  Granite Creek, Watson Woods, Watson Lake, Willow Lake.