With its black tuxedo and white cummerbund, the black phoebe
is a handsome species of flycatcher commonly found near the San Diego River in Santee.
We snapped a pic of this one on just beyond the lodge pole
fence at the south side of Town Center Community Park.
Black phoebes always live near a water source, which
provides them with ample flying insects to eat and the mud they need to
construct their nests. A typical specimen is about 6.3 inches in length. The
phoebe is often seen wagging and fanning its tail.
