Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyTyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
GenusSayornis (Phoebes)
SpeciesSayornis nigricans (Black Phoebe)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Yasuní National Park

3 Verified sightings at Yasuní National Park From 2019 to 2026

27,571 Verified sightings across all 55 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Black Phoebe

The black phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a passerine bird in the tyrant-flycatcher family. It breeds from southwest Oregon and California south through Central and South America. It occurs year-round throughout most of its range and migrates less than the other birds in its genus though its northern populations are partially migratory. Six subspecies are commonly recognized although two are occasionally combined as a separate species, the white-winged phoebe.

The black phoebe has predominantly black plumage, with a white belly and undertail coverts. The sexes are identical in color, and juveniles have brown feather tips and brown wing-bars. Its song is a repeated tee-hee, tee ho. It lives in a variety of habitats but is always near water. It is mainly insectivorous and waits on a perch before sallying out and catching its prey in the air. It makes an open cup nest which is placed under a cliff or a bridge and cemented in its place with mud.

The black phoebe is a medium-sized flycatcher, being 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighing 15 to 22 g (0.5 to 0.8 oz). It has predominantly black plumage, with white on its belly and undertail coverts. The white forms an inverted... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Yasuní National Park

Tyrannus melancholicus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Pitangus sulphuratus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Pitangus lictor

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Megarynchus pitangua

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Myiozetetes similis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Ochthornis littoralis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Tyrannulus elatus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Myiozetetes granadensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Attila spadiceus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Legatus leucophaius

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Attila cinnamomeus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Myiarchus ferox

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
2	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
3	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
4	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
5	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
6	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
7	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
8	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
9	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
10	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~20%
11	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
12	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~10%
13	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
14	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
15	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
16	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
17	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
18	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
19	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
20	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
21	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
22	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
23	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
24	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
25	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
26	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
27	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~10%
28	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
29	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
30	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
31	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
32	Cajas National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
33	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
34	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
35	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
36	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
37	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
38	Huascarán National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
39	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
40	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	<5%
41	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
42	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
43	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
44	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
45	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
46	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
47	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
48	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
49	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
50	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
51	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
52	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data
53	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
54	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
55	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data

← Back to Yasuní National Park

Black Phoebe

About the Black Phoebe

Recent sightings of Black Phoebe in Yasuní National Park

Closest Relatives at Yasuní National Park

Tropical Kingbird

Great Kiskadee

Lesser Kiskadee

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Social Flycatcher

Drab Water Tyrant

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Gray-capped Flycatcher

Bright-rumped Attila

Piratic Flycatcher

Cinnamon Attila

Short-crested Flycatcher

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found