Peculiar Habits of a Black Phoebe
Journal
Condor
Volume
5
Issue
1 (January-February)
Year
1903
Pages
19
Section
From Field and Study
Online Text
Peculiar Habits of a Black Phoebe.
For six years or more, I am told, a phoebe (Sayornis n. semiatra) has lived alone at this place and roosted, summer and winter on a branch of a rosebush under a porch. This year from January to June it could be found any night on its perch and seemed no wise disturbed by my frequent visits. In June the rosebush was torn down and for three weeks I could find no trace of the bird. Then it reappeared, alone, and ever since has divided its time between the house and barn. Why has it remained so long unmated? In former years they nested here regularly but the nearest nest this summer was over a mile from here.
ERNEST ADAMS
Clipper Gap, Cal.
