by Sadie Shields
The Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) is popular among the North American bird habitats. It belongs to the tyrant flycatcher family, the largest family of birds in the Americas which includes more than 400 species. This bird can be observed at the Arcata marsh, where it favors dry, open and sparsely vegetated habitats.
Despite its preference for desolate landscapes, the Say’s Phoebe is considered one of the more prevalent bird species in the area. It is named in honor of Thomas Say, often recognized as the father of entomology in the United States. Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a fitting connection given that insects make up the primary diet of this bird. The Say’s Phoebe is rather small in size, measuring roughly six to seven and a half inches in length with a wingspan of about 13 inches. Its plumage is characterized by brownish-gray coloring on the upper body, and soft, pale cinnamon tones underneath, giving it a subtle but distinctive appearance. The species is migratory, moving from northern regions of the United States to southern areas and parts of Mexico during the winter months in search of milder climates and reliable food sources. It can be found in the flower fields of the marsh, where its one-second call of whistles and prickly hiccups will inform you of its location.
Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt, who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.
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