Black Phoebe fledglings

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The Black Phoebes fledged he day after I took the pic below of the Black Phoebes in their nest. This is the second clutch for this female Black Phoebe and the first time I have documented a second clutch for this species in Fremont County (I discovered the first Black Phoebe in this county in 1995 so they are new to this area).I found this fledgling, and it's two siblings, in a cottonwood tree that overhangs the Arkansas River about 250 feet from the nest site. As this is the 3rd day as fledglings, they are flying about quite strongly and followed their parent about 150 feet across the river where I watched her feeding them.

The yellowish gape (the corners of it's mouth)are evident and indicative of an immature bird (though if I could have gotten a pic with it's mouth open, it would have dramatically shown as a bright orangish). Brownish tips on the lower back, lower scapulas, and rump as well as the cinnamon tips on the wing coverts are visible--these are characteristics of "juvenal" plumage (though this bird is still a fledgling dependent upon it's parent for food and won't become a "juvenile" until it attains independence--that's the difference in these similar but distinct terms). Also note the shortish tail on this species that are noted for long tails in adult plumage. SeEtta

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