Montana Field Guide

Say's Phoebe is a medium-sized flycatcher: length about 17 cm, body mass 21-22 g. Seasonally and sexually monomorphic. Adult upperparts pale brown gray, head and hindneck darker; tail brownish black and cinnamon colored belly and undertail coverts (Schukman, J. M. and Wolf, B. O. The Birds of North America, No. 374, 1998).

Normal migration periods in the Bozeman area are May 7 to May 20 and early August.

Open country, prairie ranches, sagebrush plains, badlands, dry barren foothills, canyons, and borders of deserts (Schukman and Wolf 1998).

Primarily flying or terrestrial insects, most frequently wild bees and wasps but also flies, beetles, and grasshoppers. Little vegetable matter (Schukman and Wolf 1998).

Requires sheltered ledge or pocket on which to place nest. Eggs are ovate, usually pure white with little or no gloss. Clutch size typically 4-5 eggs (Schukman and Wolf 1998). Nesting records extend from May 11 to July 2. Recently hatched young were seen on July 24 in the Bozeman area.