On my walk along the South Platte this morning, I encountered a good variety of wintering waterfowl on the river and the usual mix of winter songbirds and raptors in the riverside woodlands. Only one bird was unexpected: a Say's phoebe.
This flycatcher is common on semiarid grasslands across the Western U.S. during the warmer months, feeding on a wide variety of insects; come fall, most head to the Desert Southwest or into Mexico. While eBird continues to list Say's phoebe as a rare winter species along the Colorado Front Range, it has become a regular though uncommon winter resident in Metro Denver in recent years. During this season, they are usually observed near out-buildings, barns or open water where they presumably survive by eating berries, larvae and insect eggs; perhaps they consume seeds as well.
Say's phoebe is yet another species that may be expanding its winter range as our climate warms. This morning's encounter, set amidst residual snowbanks, was both rewarding and inspiring.
This flycatcher is common on semiarid grasslands across the Western U.S. during the warmer months, feeding on a wide variety of insects; come fall, most head to the Desert Southwest or into Mexico. While eBird continues to list Say's phoebe as a rare winter species along the Colorado Front Range, it has become a regular though uncommon winter resident in Metro Denver in recent years. During this season, they are usually observed near out-buildings, barns or open water where they presumably survive by eating berries, larvae and insect eggs; perhaps they consume seeds as well.
Say's phoebe is yet another species that may be expanding its winter range as our climate warms. This morning's encounter, set amidst residual snowbanks, was both rewarding and inspiring.
