An Eastern Phoebe has been frequenting the White Pines area of Inwood Hill Park for the past couple of days. This particular gathering of Eastern White Pine trees, located in an elevated part of the forest and marked by a park sign, as well as the adjacent forest clearing must be harboring plenty of insects for this active flycatcher. The remote area would also provide the peace and quiet these birds tend to prefer.
I think the Eastern Phoebe possesses an understated beauty. Maybe “pretty” and “winsome” are more descriptive, though these are subjective terms. Identified by its dullish brown/grey color and a light breast, the Eastern Phoebe holds itself upright with excellent posture. It wags its tail in a charming way. The phoebe looks like it would be a shy bird, but I’ve come to learn that they are well accustomed to humans as they sometimes select eaves under roof tops for their nests.
An early spring migrant, the Eastern Phoebe breeds in eastern Northern America and makes its nest of mud and grass under overhangs, ledges, and eaves. It winters in southeastern U.S. and eastern Mexico, so it tends to arrive early and stay longer through the breeding season. Compared to many other migrants who come from deeper south in the Americas, the distance they travel is not all that far.
The Eastern Phoebe is a solitary creature, like this one in the forest. It also frequents areas near water, so look there, too.
Listen for a quiet chip sound or a raspy song that sounds like “fee-bee.” Yes, that would be their name.
From the sketchbook
Recent posts
- An Evening Walk with a Great Egret, and Spring Migration Report
On an early evening walk on May 11, I came across a Great Egret foraging near high tide at the Salt Marsh in Inwood Hill Park. I usually take my walks in the early morning, and the egret usually forages near times of low tide, so this was new for both of us. The Great… Read more: An Evening Walk with a Great Egret, and Spring Migration Report - Birds on the Forest Floor: Ovenbird and Veery
During spring migration season in an old-growth forest like Inwood Hill Park, be sure to look for birds wandering along the park paths or in the dense foliage near the ground. While we are often straining our necks looking for warblers and other small songbirds in the high canopy, some warblers like the Ovenbird or… Read more: Birds on the Forest Floor: Ovenbird and Veery - A Flurry of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flickers Flickering, and a Great Egret Returns
Today, April 22, 2026, is Earth Day, a time to learn more about and advocate for the health of our home planet. The birds depend on us. A great thing about being out in nature in the morning is that a memorable morning with birds can last all day. Whatever I’m doing, whatever happens during… Read more: A Flurry of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flickers Flickering, and a Great Egret Returns - The Kinglets of the Forest, with More Stories and Tech-Related Mishaps in the Age of Digital Birding
So tiny and fast. They were kinglets, and I saw both kinds this week in the forested areas of Inwood Hill Park. Kinglets are either golden-crowned or ruby-crowned, fast-moving, and constantly in search of insects. They may be distinguished by the color of their crowns and the coloring around the eyes. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet features… Read more: The Kinglets of the Forest, with More Stories and Tech-Related Mishaps in the Age of Digital Birding - Northern Mockingbird – The Bossiest Singer in the Park
Northern Mockingbirds are famous for their expressive and varied songs, often mimicking other birds. All this month, whenever I have had occasion to walk in Inwood Hill Park or Sherman Creek Park, I’ve come across a loud mockingbird singing its heart out.
Birds of Inwood 
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