Scientific Name: Sayornis nigricans
Residency: Year-round in southern and western Arizona.
Diet: Aerial insects. Feeds mostly on insects near the surface of water. In winter, it feeds on insects near the ground. Occasionally eats tiny fish such as minnows, and some small berries.
Predators: Few observations, but may include Cooper?s Hawks, Northern Harriers, and American Kestrels. Potential nest predators include: American Kestrels, other corvids, Loggerhead Shrikes, and sometimes terrestrial predators (such as red fox, coyotes, and California ground squirrels). Scrub Jays are known to take eggs.
Nesting: The female builds a mud-based cup mixed with hair and grasses, lined with finer materials. The nest is stuck to vertical surface with some overhanging protection, for example a cliff, wooden or concrete wall, or bridge. May nest near human activity. Lays 1-6 white eggs. One-two broods per year.
Nesting Records:
Notes: Often uses the same nest or location for several years. Almost always found near water, therefore affected by human destruction of riparian habitats and diversion of water.
Photo: Photo at right was taken at Coon Bluff on January 7, 2007. For more photos, click on camera icon.
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