Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Breeding Range. (Fig. 102). Fairly common throughout the Little Missouri Slope and in the southeastern portion of the Missouri Slope (Sioux and Grant Counties, and southern Morton County); uncommon elsewhere on the Missouri Slope and on the Coteau Slope, Missouri Coteau, and Northwestern Drift Plain; rare on the Northeastern and Southern Drift Plains.
Breeding Habitat. Say's Phoebes are characteristic inhabitants of rough, severely eroded badlands and steep, dissected slopes of buttes in the southwestern portion of the state. This species also is found in the vicinity of abandoned or little-used buildings (farmhouses, sheds, and country schools) throughout its range. A unique type of habitat, consisting of a wood-bordered stream near a bridge (with active nest) was found in the northern tip of the Prairie Coteau in Sargent County in 1970 (P. F. Springer). Ordinarily, this would be the type of situation where one might expect to find the Eastern Phoebe rather than the Say's Phoebe.
Nesting. Breeding season: Mid-May to early August; peak, late May to mid-July. Nest-building was recorded on May 12 [1973], and a newly completed nest was found on May 20 [1972] in Stutsman County (H. A. Kantrud). Extreme egg dates (12 nests): May 25 [1972] in Stutsman County (H. A. Kantrud) to July 9 [year ?] in North Dakota (Bent 1942). Extreme nestling dates (6 nests): June 11 [1972] in Stutsman County (H. A. Kantrud) to August 2 [1913] in Golden Valley County (Gabrielson and Jewett 1924). Dependent flying young were observed on July 18 [1967] in Burleigh County (RES).
In the badlands and on butte slopes, all nests found were situated either in rocky crevices and fissures or under projecting ledges of rock. Elsewhere, most nests were placed inside abandoned buildings, usually on ledges several feet above the floor, and occasional nests were supported or attached on the outside of buildings under eaves. Three nests also were found attached to supporting structures under bridges.
Indicated clutch size (4 nests): 3 to 6 eggs; mean, 4.2 eggs.
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| Figure 102. Breeding Range of Say's Phoebe. |
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/bbofnd/species/4570.htm
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