any of three species of New World birds of the family Tyrannidae (order Passeriformes). In North America the best-known species is the Eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), 18 cm (7.5 inches) long, plain brownish gray above and paler below. Its call is a brisk “fee-bee” uttered over and over. It makes a mossy nest, strengthened with mud, on a ledge, often under a bridge. In the open country of western North America is Say's phoebe (S. saya), a slightly larger bird with buff-hued underparts. The most widely distributed is the black phoebe (S. nigricans), occurring from the southwestern United States to Argentina; it is dark above with a contrasting white belly. All phoebes have the habit of twitching their tails when perching.