This slender, long-tailed flycatcher appears large-headed for a bird of its size. They are pale brownish gray above with a cinnamon belly, a blackish tail, and a gray breast. Like other phoebes, the Say’s Phoebe often wags or pumps its tail when perched, although not as frequently as Eastern and Black phoebes.

When foraging, Say’s often perch around eye level on exposed twigs, jumping up to snatch a flying insect and returning to the same or a nearby perch. They live in open country, avoid forests, and often gravitate to buildings. One or both phoebes often return to the same territory year after year, sometimes even reusing nests from the previous year, but it’s not clear if it is with the same mate.

The song of the Say’s Phoebe consists of 2 rather simple vocalizations repeated over and over: a clear, slurred whistle and a burry, hiccupping note. Each phrase is less than 1 second long, but they repeat the phrases for several minutes.

Birds breeding in Alaska, Canada, and the northern U.S. migrate south to Mexico or to the southwestern United States. Phoebes breeding in the Southwest do not migrate and are present year-round.