The genus Sayornis is a small group of medium-sized insect-eating birds, known as phoebes, in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae.

Quick Facts Phoebes, Scientific classification ...

Phoebes
Sayornis phoebe
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Tyrannidae
Genus:	Sayornis Bonaparte, 1854
Type species
Sayornis nigricans[1] Bonaparte, 1854
Species
See text.

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The genus Sayornis that was introduced by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1854 with black phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) as the type species.^[2][3] The genus name is constructed from the specific part of Bonaparte's name for Say's phoebe, Muscicapa saya, and Ancient Greek ornis meaning "bird".^[4] The English Phoebe is a name for the Roman moon-goddess Diana.^[5]

They are native to North and South America.

They prefer semi-open or open areas near water. These birds wait on a perch and then catch insects, usually in pairs. Their nest is an open cup sometimes placed on man-made structures.^[6] They aren't fond of dense forests, and prefer low perches.^[7][8]

They often slowly lower and raise their tails while perched.^{[9][10][11][12]}