Eastern Phoebe Uses Elk Hair as a Nesting Material

Authors

Nathan W. Seward, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestay, Lexington, KY
John J. Cox, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestay, Lexington, KY
Joshua H. Brown, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestay, Lexington, KY
Jeffery L. Larkin, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestay, Lexington, KY

Date of this Version

February 2004

Comments

Published in The Kentucky Warbler.

Abstract

On 20 April 2003, we found an active Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) nest located under a capstone rock ledge on a reclaimed mine in Breathitt County, Kentucky. The capstone was one of several clustered together on top of a southwestern slope at 420 m in elevation and was located approximately 100 m from the forest-reclaimed grassland edge. The nest was positioned 2 m off the ground near the ceiling-vertical wall interface. The nest contained three eggs and was comprised of a mosaic of moss, mud, and grasses. The lining of the nest was a mixture of grass and elk (Cervus elaphus) hair. The dark brown color and length of the hair suggested it was from the neck mane region of an elk.