Phainopepla
Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
At a Glance
In the desert southwest, Phainopeplas and mistletoe rely on each other. Phainopeplas feed heavily on berries of this parasitic plant; after the berries pass through the bird's digestive tract, the seeds often stick to branches of mesquite or other trees, where they can sprout new mistletoe clumps. Flocks of these slim, elegant birds may gather to feed on seasonally abundant crops, such as elderberries. At other times, Phainopeplas are solitary, each bird defending a few small trees with several large clumps of mistletoe, and attempting to drive away any other fruit-eating birds that come close.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Perching Birds, Silky Flycatchers
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Arroyos and Canyons, Desert and Arid Habitats, Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Region
California, Southwest, Texas
Behavior
Undulating
Population
3.200.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Movements are complex and poorly understood. May nest in spring in the desert and then depart for other areas, possibly to nest again elsewhere.
Description
Sexes Similar — Length: 7.1–8.3 in (18–21 cm); wingspan: 10.6–11.4 in (27–29 cm); weight: 0.6–1 oz (17.9–28.1 g). The Phainopepla is a long, slim bird with a spiky crest and red eyes. The male is glossy black, with white wing patches that are visible mainly in flight. Female gray with paler wing edgings.
Size
About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Gray, White
Wing Shape
Rounded
Tail Shape
Long, Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Common calls of the Phainopepla include an up-slurred whistled hoooeet and a low quirk. The short warbled song is rarely heard.
Call Pattern
Falling, Flat, Rising, Undulating
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, Scream, Trill, Whistle
Habitat
Desert scrub, mesquites, oak foothills, mistletoe clumps. The Phainopepla occurs in many lowland and foothill habitats, moving as berries become available. Often in Sonoran desert areas and mesquite groves at various times of year, it moves into chaparral, streamside trees, and oak woodlands.
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Behavior
Eggs
2-3, rarely 4. Grayish, heavily dotted with lavender and black. Incubation is by both parents, 14-16 days. Males and females seemingly divide incubation evenly, but some have noted that the male does most of the incubation during daylight hours.
Young
Fed by both parents, receiving mostly crushed insects at first, then also berries. Young leave the nest about 19-20 days after hatching.
Feeding Behavior
Feeds on berries mostly while perched; also hovers briefly to pluck berries or insects. The Phainopepla catches insects in mid-air by flying out from a perch and pursuing them in a quick, fluttery flight.
Diet
Mostly berries and insects. Mistletoe berries are mainstays of the diet when available. The Phainopepla also feeds heavily on berries of elder, buckthorn, and sometimes juniper; in settled areas, it eats many berries of pepper trees. Also eats many insects, especially in warmer weather, including beetles, flies, true bugs, and caterpillars.
Nesting
Males display over nesting territory by flying in high circles and zigzags. In courtship, the male Phainopepla may chase the female in flight; while perched, the male may feed the female. Nest: Often placed in the center of a clump of mistletoe, where it is very difficult to see; sometimes in the fork of a branch. Nest height varies with habitat, typically low (4-12 ft above ground) in desert mesquites, higher (up to 50 ft) in streamside oaks or sycamores. Nest, built primarily by males, is a rather small, shallow cup of twigs, weeds, leaves, and plant fibers, bound together with spiderwebs and lined with animal hair or plant down.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Numbers vary from year to year, but the overall population seems stable.
Climate Threats Facing the Phainopepla
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.
