Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), Sweetwater waste treatment, Pima County

This Eastern Phoebe was reported by Melody Kehl on 3 December 2009 and photographed by William Higgins the same day.

Eastern Phoebe is a rare but regular winter visitor to Arizona.

Note the dark cap, rounded head, pale throat, short primary projection and dark bill which help to separate Eastern Phoebe from the Wood-Pewees. The best field mark for Eastern Phoebe, not captured in a still photograph, is that it constantly dips its tail down.

03 December 2009, photo by William Higgins

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