Phainopepla nitens
female
With its long tail and spiky crest, the Phainopepla is easily recognized. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males have glossy black plumage and a red eye. A white wing patch is visible only in flight. Adult females are buffish gray overall, with a subtle blue tint to the head and white margins to the wing feathers. Juveniles are similar to an adult female but the plumage is overall buff and the eye is dark.
The Phainopepla’s habitat requirements vary throughout the year. In the summer months, when its range extends northwards, it favors riverside woodland and thickets, while in winter its chosen habitat is desert scrub. It raises broods in both habitats.
female
male
FACT FILE
LENGTH 7.5–8 in (19–20 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates, fruits, and berries, particularly those of mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.)
HABITAT Riverine woodland in summer; desert habitats in winter
STATUS Locally common resident and summer visitor
VOICE Song includes whistles, warbles, and some mimicry. Call is a whistled wu-ip
