Table of Contents
Overview
Distribution
Geographic Range
Phainopeplas can be found in central California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, southern New Mexico, and western Texas. South to Baja and into Mexico. During the winters, these birds are found in southern California, southern Nevada, central Arizona, southern New Mexico and southern Texas.(Reader's Digest, 1998)
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: BREEDS: central California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, southern New Mexico, and western Texas south to southern Baja California and central mainland of Mexico. WINTERS: southern California, southern Nevada, central Arizona, southern New Mexico, western and southern Texas south to northwestern Oaxaca, Pueblo and west-central Veracruz, Mexico (AOU 1983).
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
On average, the Phainopepla reaches a length of 16 cm. Their bills are short and thin. They have have a dark crest with the males having an entirely black plumage, while the females have a grey plumage. During flight, white wing patches are visible. They have a very long tail and the juveniles look very similiar to that of the female. (Reader's Digest, 1998)
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Size
Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
The Phainopepla is found throughout desert ecosystems. They are primarily found in washes, riparian areas, and other habitats that support arid scrubs. If they are found near coastal areas, they prefer oak chaperral and riparian oak woodlands. (Reader's Digest, 1998)
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; chaparral
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Comments: Desert scrub, mesquite, juniper and oak woodland, tall brush, riparian woodland and orchards (Tropical to Temperate zones) (AOU 1983). Nests in trees or shrubs from 1-15 m above ground. Nest built mostly by male.
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Migration
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
Population in northern part of range migrates southward for winter. In California some birds that breed in desert in March-April migrate in April-May to wetter coastal areas and breed again late May-July (Walsberg 1977). Resident in Sonoran Desert October-April; occupies semiarid habitats to north, east, and west of Sornoran Desert late spring through fall.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
The Phainopepla's diet consists of the berries of mistletoe(Phoradendron macrophyllum). When these berries are hard to find they consume small insects. (Reader's Digest, 1998)
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Comments: Feeds on berries of mistletoe (espec. in desert), juniper, elder, and buckthorn. Also eats many insects.
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General Ecology
Travels in small flocks, except when nesting. Average territory size is 0.4 ha in desert, 0.03 ha in woodlands (Walsberg 1977).
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Life History and Behavior
Reproduction
Reproduction
Phainopepla's breeding habitat is that of a successional-scrub, usually in mesquite brush lands. They are known to nest in the early spring. The eggs are grayish-white or pinkish, and are spotted with black, pale lavender, or gray. The eggs are incubated by both the male and female for up to fifteen days. The young are taken care of for eighteen to nineteen days by both parents before leaving the nest. (Reader's Digest, 1998)
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Breeds March-April in Colorado Desert, late May-July in coastal oak and riparian woodlands; 1-3 broods/year. Usually 2-3 eggs are incubated by both sexes (possibly mainly by male) for 14-15 days. Young are tended by both sexes, leave nest in 18 days.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Phainopepla nitens
There are 3 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
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Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Phainopepla nitens
Public Records: 3
Species: 3
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Contributor/s
Justification
History
- 2008Least Concern
- 2004Least Concern
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Conservation Status
(Reader's Digest, 1998)
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
The Phainopepla does not seem to directly affect humans.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The Phainopepla does not seem to directly affect humans.
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Wikipedia
Phainopepla
The Phainopepla or Northern Phainopepla[2] (Phainopepla nitens) is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptilogonatidae, the silky flycatchers.
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Description
The Phainopepla is a striking bird, 16–20 cm 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.
Range and habitat
The Phainopepla ranges as far north as central California with the San Joaquin Valley and southern Utah, and south to central Mexico, the interior Mexican Plateau region; the southern edge of the plateau, the transverse mountains is its non-breeding home. It is found in hot areas, including desert oases, and is readily seen in the deserts of Arizona, southern Nevada, and southern California; also the Baja Peninsula, both Baja California-(north), and Baja California Sur where they are only breeding resident birds.
Diet
Berries, any small insects, fruits, vegetables. Phainopepla have a specialized mechanism in their gizzard that shucks berry skins off the fruit and packs the skins separately from the rest of the fruit into the intestines for more efficient digestion. So far this is the only known bird able to do this.
Reproduction
It nests in the spring. The eggs are gray or pink and speckled, and the incubation, done by both the male and female, takes fifteen days. The young will be reared by the parents for up to nineteen more days.[3]
Interesting habits
- Phainopeplas have been found to imitate the calls of twelve other species, such as the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus).[4]
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). Phainopepla nitens. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- ^ Weathers, Wesley W. (1983) Birds of Southern California's Deep Canyon ISBN 0-520-04754-0
- ^ animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu [1]; Accessed 2/25/07
- ^ Chu, M (2001) Vocal Mimicry in Distress Calls of Phainopeplas; The Condor 103(2): 389-395
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Unreviewed
