What if you had to catch your food mid-air to eat? For flycatchers, it’s how they survive.
Flycatchers live throughout North and South America, and comprise the largest family of birds, with over 400 species. The smallest is the Short-tailed pygmy tyrant, averaging 2.6 inches in length, and about the size of a hummingbird. The largest is the Great shrike-tyrant and can be a foot in length.
Black Phoebes are common in San Francisco’s parks and by water. This one kept claim to the sculpture in Alamo Square.
Bird Facts: Black Phoebes tend to have a routine when hunting. They’ll pick a spot to perch on, watching for insects coming by or hovering over water. When ready, they’ll quickly dart out to catch their prey, returning to the prior spot.
