Phainopepla

Phainopepla nitens

Explore this bird

Identification

20 cm (8") Common. Southwestern United States. Mesquite brushland, oak foothills, desert scrub, mistletoe.

Crested head. Long rounded tail. Red eye.

Male: all glossy black. In flight; white wing patch. Fluttery direct flight.

Female or Immature: all dark gray. In flight; gray wing patch. Fluttery direct flight.

Eats berries and flying insects.

Song: short soft whistle.

Details in the field

2 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

2 videos

Phainopepla

Credit: Don DesJardin

Phainopepla

Credit: Larry Bond

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 6

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Crest of feathers on top of the head · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:760-phainopepla-male:1:1 Source: 760 Phainopepla (Male), row 1

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 6

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Crest of feathers on top of the head · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:761-phainopepla-female-or-immature:1:1 Source: 761 Phainopepla (Female or Immature), row 1