A few mornings ago, while visiting Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I spotted a hardworking Eastern Phoebe perched on the edge of a fishing pier. In its beak, it proudly held a clump of moss – a vital building block for its nest!
The nest itself was cleverly hidden out of sight, tucked underneath the pier. From my research, I knew this was likely the work of the female Phoebe. While the male might occasionally contribute a piece of material, the female takes the lead on nest construction. In this case, all I saw was the male faithfully following his partner as she gathered moss for their future home.
Eastern Phoebes are known for their open-cup nests, built with a sturdy mud base and a cozy lining of moss, grasses, and even animal hair. These nests are often found in unexpected places – under bridges, barns, culverts, and even artificial structures like the fishing pier I was visiting.
Once the nest is complete, the female will lay a clutch of 2 to 6 eggs, incubating them for roughly two weeks. Then, both parents jump in to share chick-feeding duties. After another 15-16 days, the fluffy phoebe chicks will be ready to fledge and explore the world.
Interestingly, Eastern Phoebes are known to be resourceful nesters. They often reuse their own nests in subsequent years, and might even take over an old nest built by another bird species. In some cases, a particularly determined pair might even raise two broods in a single breeding season!
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the fascinating world of the Eastern Phoebe. Their dedication to nest-building and chick-rearing is a true testament to the wonders of the natural world.