The Black Phoebe is a small passerine bird that is found across western North America. They are a common sight in parks, backyards, and other open habitats. But just how common are Black Phoebes? Let’s take a look at some key facts about their population and distribution to find out.
What is the scientific name for the Black Phoebe?
The scientific name for the Black Phoebe is Sayornis nigricans. They belong to the tyrant flycatcher family known as Tyrannidae.
Where are Black Phoebes found?
Black Phoebes have a broad range across western North America. Their breeding range extends from southwestern Canada through the western United States, including all states west of the Rocky Mountains, and into Mexico.
Some key areas where they can be found include:
- British Columbia, Canada
- Washington, Oregon, and California
- Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas
- Baja California and other parts of northern Mexico
During the winter, most Black Phoebes withdraw from the northern parts of their range and migrate south to areas in the southern United States and Mexico. However, some can still be found year-round along the Pacific Coast, from southern Oregon to Baja California.
What habitats do Black Phoebes prefer?
Black Phoebes thrive in open, arid to semi-arid environments. Their preferred breeding habitats include:
- Canyons and rocky outcrops
- Cliffs along shorelines
- Bridges and overpasses
- Buildings and other manmade structures
They readily take advantage of human-altered environments and are common in rural settlements, farms, parks, and urban areas. You can often spot them perched on fences, power lines, or rafters.
During migration and winter, they utilize similar semi-open, rural, and urban environments across the southern U.S. and Mexico.
How many Black Phoebes are there?
The Black Phoebe has an extremely large range and is not considered globally threatened. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, their worldwide breeding population is estimated at around 31 million mature individuals.
Their numbers appear stable across much of their range. The species was evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
So while they are widespread and numerous, let’s take a closer look at their abundance across different parts of their range.
Population Status by Region
Here is an overview of Black Phoebe population levels in key areas across North America:
Southwestern Canada
Black Phoebes are uncommon summer residents and breeders in southwestern Canada, mostly limited to southern British Columbia.
Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data indicates an estimated population of 100,000-500,000 individuals in British Columbia. Their numbers in Canada are very small compared to populations further south.
Western United States
The Black Phoebe is considered an abundant and common year-round resident across most of the western United States.
BBS data shows an estimated population of over 10 million in the Western BBS region (including all states west of the Rocky Mountains). Their numbers have been stable or even increasing in many areas in recent decades.
Some state-level abundance estimates:
- California – Over 2 million, described as one of the most common and widespread bird species.
- Oregon – Estimated at around 250,000-500,000 individuals.
- Washington – More than 100,000 individuals.
- Arizona – Over 1 million, considered common to abundant.
- New Mexico – 500,000, relatively common.
Mexico
In Mexico, Black Phoebes are also considered to be common in appropriate habitat across northern and central regions. However their population size is not well quantified.
Backyard Abundance
Now that we’ve looked at broad population patterns, let’s zoom in on a local level. How likely are you to see Black Phoebes in your own backyard?
This can vary greatly depending on precisely where you live. As we’ve seen, they are most abundant across the western states. Here is a quick overview of their backyard abundance in select areas:
Pacific Northwest
Throughout Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Black Phoebes are regular visitors to backyards with some open habitat, especially west of the Cascades. They are considered a common to abundant backyard bird.
California
From San Francisco Bay and south, Black Phoebes are one of the most familiar backyard birds in California. They are present year-round and highly likely to be found around rural or suburban homes. Further north they are less numerous but still fairly common.
Southwestern States
In Arizona, New Mexico and surrounding areas, the Black Phoebe is a common backyard resident, especially in rural areas and towns. They are year-round backyard birds throughout most of this region.
Rocky Mountain States
In states like Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, Black Phoebes breed in suitable habitat but are somewhat localized and uncommon. They are unlikely as regular backyard birds.
Midwest and Eastern States
East of the Rockies, Black Phoebes are very rare vagrants. They are essentially absent as backyard birds, except very occasionally in the far western areas of states like Texas.
Conclusion
In summary, Black Phoebes are abundant and widespread songbirds across much of western North America. Their population numbers likely exceed 10 million mature adults overall.
They are a regular backyard bird throughout their core range in the western states and southwestern Canada. But their presence declines further east and they are rare or absent as backyard birds east of the Rocky Mountains.
Within the West, they are probably most abundant and widespread in California, where they are a year-round fixture in many backyards. Their numbers appear generally stable, though local declines have been noted in British Columbia and parts of Southern California.
So in habitats they favor, Black Phoebes maintain sizable populations and are familiar backyard birds. But on a continental scale they are localized to the west, so are not necessarily common backyard birds across all of North America.
Region | Breeding Population Estimate | Backyard Abundance |
---|---|---|
California | Over 2 million | Common to abundant |
Southwest U.S. | Over 1 million in AZ | Common |
Pacific Northwest | 100,000s | Common |
Rocky Mountains | Localized | Uncommon |
Midwest/Eastern U.S. | Rare vagrants | Very rare |