This is an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) visiting my birdbath today.

There are three species of Phoebe that live in North America. The Eastern Phoebe lives in the mainly eastern portion of our continent from the Northwest Territories to Mexico. There is the Say’s Phoebe that lives in the western half of the continent from Alaska to Mexico. And the third, the Black Phoebe that lives on the western coast from Oregon to Mexico.

The Eastern Phoebe is a year-round resident here in the Blue Ridge Mountains where they are on insect duty, eating many insects, caterpillars, millipedes, spiders and other arachnids such as ticks. During the winter they eat berries and small fruits. Being insectivores, I really appreciate having them around.