phoebe

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of several small North American flycatchers of the genus Sayornis, especially the eastern phoebe

   An eastern phoebe built its nest beneath the porch roof.

An imitative bird name, from the eastern phoebe's repeated call, conventionally heard as 'fee-bee.' The spelling was influenced by the classical name Phoebe, Greek for 'bright'; older texts sometimes spell the bird name with the oe ligature.

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