About Phainopepla nitens (Swainson, 1838)
Phainopepla nitens is a striking bird species that measures 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) in length. Individuals are slender, with a noticeable crest, a long tail, a short slender bill, and an upright posture when perching. Males have glossy black plumage and a white wing patch that becomes visible during flight; females have plain gray plumage and a lighter gray wing patch. Both sexes have red eyes, which are more noticeable in females than in males. This bird's range extends north to central California including the San Joaquin Valley and southern Utah, and south to central Mexico's interior Mexican Plateau region. The southern edge of the plateau, the transverse mountains, is its non-breeding home. It occurs in hot areas including desert oases, and is commonly observed in the deserts of Arizona, southern Nevada, and southern California, as well as the Baja Peninsula, including both northern Baja California and Baja California Sur, where it is the only breeding resident bird species. Rare vagrant individuals have traveled as far north as Canada; one individual was recorded as far north as Brampton, Ontario, Canada in 2009. Phainopepla nitens nests in spring. It builds loosely constructed nests from twigs, mosses, and plant fibers, placing these nests on tree branches usually less than 20 feet above the ground, in thickets or open woods near water. Its eggs are gray or pink with speckles. Both males and females take part in incubation, which lasts fifteen days. Parent birds rear their young for up to an additional nineteen days after hatching.
