Originally Posted by
Yooper32
That is an Eastern Flycatcher, he is a tail-bobber and a monster who keeps any other bug catching bird out of his territory forever. You can take down his nest as many times as you want until you give up and he has his territory. No Carolina wrens, no bluebirds, no bird that catches bugs will be allowed in his area. I hate him! I did battle with him for three years and he won. I had Carolina Wrens, that sing like choir angels, try to use a bird house in the same area and he ran them off, he patrols around the whole perimeter here. Just my not-so-humble opinion of the Eastern Flycatcher.
PS, this bird does not say "Phoebe", he has a four-note song it is one note and one note up, one note and one note down.
I do not have the same experience at all with the Phoebes in my yard. I always have bluebirds, wrens, robins, chickadees, goldfinches and swallows nesting along with the Phoebes. They seem to say phoebe to me, but yes, they do have an accent and the chickadees say it much more clearly.
PS: Just a note to all concerned; all songbirds are protected and it is illegal to destroy or remove their nests intentionally.