Black Phoebe - Manitou Lake - Teller County

[Robb Hinds]

Today I saw a Black Phoebe or Black x Eastern Phoebe at Manitou Lake. I have asked a couple of people who see a lot of Black and Eastern Phoebes for their opinion. The bird was near the Tassle-eared Squirrel sign. It was still there at 12:30.

There was also a Wood Duck in the same area which is unusual at Manitou Lake.

Robb Hinds

Colorado Springs

El Paso County 

[Jeff J Jones]

Thanks to Robb for texting me yesterday when he found this Phoebe. I was able to get up there about an hour later and it was still in the same spot and content to stay there.

 

This is the same spot that a pair of Rusty Blackbirds hung out all winter. I hadn’t seen either of them since the end of March. But one was present yesterday at the same spot, within feet of the Phoebe.

 

Also found Red-naped Sapsuckers here and everywhere in the Ponderosas around the lake. There must have been more than 20 calling and displaying.

 

Also FOS here were an American Coot and Common Grackles.

 

I don’t have a lot of experience with Black or Eastern Phoebes so I do not have an opinion on whether this is a hybrid or black. I can say that it was odd enough to make me question whether it was a pure black phoebe.

 

·         It did have a blackish head and

·         peak to the back of its head

·         It did have the typical dark divided breast bib, and

·         White belly

·         Its back and mantle however seemed more the color of the Eastern Phoebe, a distinct contrast to head and upper breast color

·         Either are a first for me in Teller County!

 

fyi

 

Jeff J Jones

(jjo...@jonestc.com)

Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands

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