The phainopepla or northern phainopepla[2] (Phainopepla nitens) is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptiliogonatidae, the silky flycatchers. Its name is from the Greek phain pepla meaning "shining robe" in reference to the male's plumage.
The phainopepla is a striking bird, 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) 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.
Their diet consists of berries, any small insects, fruits, vegetables. Phainopeplas 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.[citation needed] So far this is the only known bird able to do this. They appear to relish the fruit of Phoradendron californicum, the desert mistletoe.
Reproductionedit
It nests in the spring. They make loosely constructed nests of twigs, mosses, plant fibers, placed on branches of trees, usually below 20 feet from the ground, in thickets or open woods near water.[4] 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.[5]
Songedit
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).[6]
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2021). "Phainopepla nitens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22708139A137451722. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22708139A137451722.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Weathers, Wesley W. (1983). Birds of Southern California's Deep Canyon. University of California Press. p. 185. ISBN0-520-04754-0.
^"[Ontbirds] Phainopepla in Brampton". 11 November 2009.
^"Phainopepla Species Account". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 25 February 2007.
^Chu, M. (2001). "Vocal Mimicry in Distress Calls of Phainopeplas". The Condor. 103 (2): 389–395. doi:10.1650/0010-5422(2001)103[0389:vmidco]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 1370388. S2CID 83859277.
Further readingedit
Booksedit
Chu, M.; Walsberg, G. (1999). "Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)". In Poole, A.; Gill, F. (eds.). The Birds of North America. Philadelphia, PA: The Birds of North America, Inc.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phainopepla nitens.
Wikispecies has information related to Phainopepla nitens.
phainopepla, phainopepla, northern, phainopepla, nitens, most, northerly, representative, mainly, tropical, central, american, family, ptiliogonatidae, silky, flycatchers, name, from, greek, phain, pepla, meaning, shining, robe, reference, male, plumage, male,. The phainopepla or northern phainopepla 2 Phainopepla nitens is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptiliogonatidae the silky flycatchers Its name is from the Greek phain pepla meaning shining robe in reference to the male s plumage Phainopepla Male Female in California USA Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Ptiliogonatidae Genus PhainopeplaS F Baird 1858 Species P nitens Binomial name Phainopepla nitens Swainson 1838 Contents 1 Description 2 Range and habitat 3 Diet 4 Reproduction 5 Song 6 References 7 Further reading 7 1 Books 8 External linksDescription edit nbsp Male in flight showing white wing patches The phainopepla is a striking bird 16 20 cm 6 3 7 9 in 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 editThe 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 the only breeding resident birds citation needed Extreme individuals have travelled as far as Canada with one bird in 2009 reaching as far north as Brampton Ontario Canada 3 Diet editTheir diet consists of berries any small insects fruits vegetables Phainopeplas 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 citation needed So far this is the only known bird able to do this They appear to relish the fruit of Phoradendron californicum the desert mistletoe Reproduction editIt nests in the spring They make loosely constructed nests of twigs mosses plant fibers placed on branches of trees usually below 20 feet from the ground in thickets or open woods near water 4 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 5 Song editPhainopeplas 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 6 References edit BirdLife International 2021 Phainopepla nitens IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T22708139A137451722 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 3 RLTS T22708139A137451722 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Weathers Wesley W 1983 Birds of Southern California s Deep Canyon University of California Press p 185 ISBN 0 520 04754 0 Ontbirds Phainopepla in Brampton 11 November 2009 The Bird Book Phainopepla Species Account Animal Diversity Web University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Retrieved 25 February 2007 Chu M 2001 Vocal Mimicry in Distress Calls of Phainopeplas The Condor 103 2 389 395 doi 10 1650 0010 5422 2001 103 0389 vmidco 2 0 co 2 JSTOR 1370388 S2CID 83859277 Further reading editBooks edit Chu M Walsberg G 1999 Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens In Poole A Gill F eds The Birds of North America Philadelphia PA The Birds of North America Inc External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phainopepla nitens nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Phainopepla nitens BirdLife species factsheet for Phainopepla nitens Phainopepla nitens Avibase nbsp Phainopepla media Internet Bird Collection Phainopepla photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Interactive range map of Phainopepla nitens at IUCN Red List maps Audio recordings of Phainopepla on Xeno canto Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phainopepla amp oldid 1219708969, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
