Photo by Netta Smith taken from the Seattle Audubon web page

Description: When asked to describe a Phainopepla to a novice, I usually reply., “Think of a black Northern Cardinal” as most novice birds know what a cardinal looks like. However, the two birds are completely different in most all aspects. The two things they have in common is the approximate size ( the Northern Cardinal is 8.75” and the Phainopepla is 7.75) and each have a large crest.

The Phainopepla is of the Silky Flycatcher group; in fact, the name means “Silky Robe.” The male is all black including the feet and bill. The female is plain gray. They also have red eyes. The male has a broad white wing-patch that is only visible when it flies, but it is unmistakable and makes identification easy in flight.

Territory: This is a Western bird common in oak foothills, desert scrub and mesquite lowlands of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. It can sometimes be found in Texas, but that is rare.

Diet: They mainly like berries from mistletoe, elderberry, juniper and grape and they like to forage in flocks. Like any flycatcher, they also eat insects.

Nesting and Breeding: They roost in flocks on buildings and in trees just like European Starlings. They are a cavity nester and take advantage of any closed hole especially in trees. They are monogamous and the female will lay from 4-5 eggs which are greenish-blue