I know there are many novice and aspiring birders who lurk on this list, learning as they go. Hello! In recent months, judging from eBird submissions, I have noticed what appears to be the species most misidentified by the new birders in Tennessee this time of year:
Eastern PhoebeFor such a plain bird, the Eastern Phoebe has a surprisingly variable appearance. It can look black-and-white like an Eastern Kingbird, yellow-bellied like a Great Crested Flycatcher, wingbarred and tail- wagging like an Acadian or other Empidonax, or plain gray and wingbarred like a Pewee. Reports of all these other species have come in recently that all appear to be misidentified Phoebes. All of these other species are MUCH less likely this time of year, though some will be arriving pretty soon. In winter and early spring, when you see any flycatcher anywhere in Tennessee, the big question has got to be "why is this not an Eastern Phoebe?" Study the variations in this common bird, and then unless you can come up with an iron- clad reason why not, the overwhelming odds are that it IS a Phoebe!
Bill Pulliam
Hohenwald TN
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