The Say's Phoebe can often be seen sitting on a branch, then swooping up to catch an insect out of the air before returning to its perch. Say's Phoebe builds its nest in sheltered locations including cliff ledges and human-made structures such as buildings and bridges.
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
Photo:
The State of Canada's Birds is presented in partnership by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada.
Say's Phoebe
Status and Trends
Distribution
Methods
The State of Canada's Birds is presented in partnership by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada.
Did you know
Summary
Trend
Moderate Increase
Confidence: Medium
Goal
Within Goal Range
The Say's Phoebe nests in the Yukon and western Northwest Territories, and south through British Columbia and Alberta to the Prairies. It winters in the southwestern United States and Mexico. There are approximately 280,000 individuals in Canada, which represents 5% of the global population and a low degree of responsibility for Canada. Another 150,000 individuals breed in Alaska and migrate through Canada, boosting the proportion of the global total to 7%. The Canadian population of Say's Phoebe has shown a moderate increase relative to 1970 based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Confidence in this assessment is moderate because coverage samples less than half of the breeding distribution. The national population of Say's Phoebe is within its goal range.
Migration Strategy
Short-distance
Canadian Responsibility
Population Estimates
Breeding
280,000
Annual
430,000
Global
5,900,000
Related readings
Summary report
View the report
Trends from this species and others are rolled up into The State of Canada’s Birds Summary Report. Follow the link below to view the report, learn more about birds in Canada, and see how we can all help birds.
This species is included in the following analysis groups for the report:
Aerial Insectivores
Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada. 2024. The State of Canada’s Birds – Say's Phoebe. Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada.
https://doi.org/10.71842/2g7k-y547
The State of Canada's Birds is presented in partnership by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada.
Did you know
The Say's Phoebe can often be seen sitting on a branch, then swooping up to catch an insect out of the air before returning to its perch. Say's Phoebe builds its nest in sheltered locations including cliff ledges and human-made structures such as buildings and bridges.
Distribution and Occurrence
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Related readings
Summary report
View the report
Trends from this species and others are rolled up into The State of Canada’s Birds Summary Report. Follow the link below to view the report, learn more about birds in Canada, and see how we can all help birds.
This species is included in the following analysis groups for the report:
Aerial Insectivores
Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada. 2024. The State of Canada’s Birds – Say's Phoebe. Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada.
https://doi.org/10.71842/2g7k-y547