Phoebe (bird)
The genus Sayornis is a small group of medium-sized insect-eating birds, known as phoebes, in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. 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". The English Phoebe is a name for the Roman moon-goddess Diana.
Description
They are native to North and South America.They prefer semi-open or open areas. These birds wait on a perch and then catch insects. Their nest is an open cup sometimes placed on man-made structures.
They often slowly lower and raise their tails while perched.
Species
The genus contains three species:| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
| Sayornis phoebe | Eastern phoebe | eastern North America | |
| Sayornis nigricans | Black phoebe | United States, Mexico and Central America, and parts of South America | |
| Sayornis saya | Say's phoebe | United States and Canada |