Immature Say's Phoebe perched on barbed wire, Box Elder County, UtahImmature Say’s Phoebe perched on barbed wire – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It is always a thrill for me to photograph Say’s Phoebes so when I spotted a family group of them yesterday morning in northern Utah I was delighted. There were at least 5 phoebes in the group and although most of them had dispersed to the sagebrush behind the fence next to the gravel road this immature Say’s Phoebe stuck around and I was able to get several nice photos of it.

Immature Say's Phoebe in sagebrush habitat, Box Elder County, UtahImmature Say’s Phoebe in sagebrush habitat – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Say’s Phoebes are birds I typically hear before I see them and I love to listen to their distinctive songs. A few of the immature Say’s Phoebes I saw and photographed yesterday were calling but I did not see this bird call while I took photos of it.

The background coloration in these images is from sagebrushes that were behind the fence.

Immature Say's Phoebe looking at the ground, Box Elder County, UtahImmature Say’s Phoebe looking at the ground – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This immature Say’s Phoebe may have stuck around longer than it did except a pickup hauling horses in a trailer rumbled past which caused the phoebe to take flight. For a few moments though this young bird had all of my attention and focus.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my Say’s Phoebe photos plus facts and information about this species.