Phainopepla
A species of Phainopeplas Scientific name : Phainopepla nitens Genus : Phainopeplas
Phainopepla, A species of Phainopeplas
Botanical name: Phainopepla nitens
Genus: Phainopeplas
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Caleb Putnam , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The phainopepla is a striking bird, 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) long with a noticeable crest and a long tail; it is slender, and has an upright posture when it perches. Its bill is short and slender. The male is glossy black, and has a white wing patch that is visible when it flies; the female is plain gray and has a lighter gray wing patch. Both sexes have red eyes, but these are more noticeable in the female than the male. 
Size
20 cm (7.75 in)
Colors
Black
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
3 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
2 - 4 eggs
Incubation Period
1 brood
Nestling Period
14 - 20 days
Feeding Habits
Phainopepla primarily consumes fruit, with a preference for desert mistletoe berries, and supplements its diet with insects caught in flight. They habitually defend winter feeding territories and occasionally glean invertebrates from foliage. During the nestling phase, they increase insect prey to cater to the high-protein needs of their young.
Habitat
Phainopepla typically inhabits desert riparian zones, thriving in areas with shrubs and trees such as mesquite, acacia, palo verde, and ironwoods. These birds favor environments parasitized by desert mistletoe, often seen in semiarid and riparian woodlands within chaparral ecosystems as well as live-oak and Joshua-tree woodlands. Commonly found below 6,000 feet in elevation, phainopepla frequents foothill regions, canyon bottoms, and hillsides with oak and sycamore, amidst open areas of grass and low chaparral, utilizing washes, foothills, and canyons more than open deserts or grasslands.
Nest Behavior
Phainopepla males select the site and construct the nest, with females sometimes contributing to the lining.
Nest Characteristics
Phainopepla nests are found in a tree fork or within a mistletoe plant, typically 6-16 feet high. The nest is a small, neat cup made of twigs, stems, and plant fibers bonded with spider silk, and lined with hair or down, measuring about 4 inches across and 1.9 inches high.
Dite type
Frugivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Fruit
Sounds
Call
Recording location: United States
Call
Recording location: United States
Behavior
Phainopepla exhibit a monogamous lifestyle and engage in courtship activities during winter, frequently culminating in communal flight displays. These birds demonstrate remarkable nest site displays, characterized by males executing a high, spiraling flight. They partake in courtship feeding, offering potential mates berries or insects. Territorial behavior varies by region, with phainopepla in Arizona defending both the nest and nearby resources, while those in California protect primarily the nest area. Phainopepla may form nesting colonies where food is abundant. Outside of the breeding season, they typically join small flocks around rich food sources or migrate alone. Phainopepla spend considerable time perched prominently, vigilant against interlopers.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Silky-flycatchers Genus
Phainopeplas Species
Phainopepla 
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