 |
By Christen Lima
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)
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 .
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)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
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)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous .
Behavior
The Phainopepla has a unique relationship with its main food source, mistletoe berries. Mistletoe berries are dependent on the bird to plant them on the branch of a tree. It does this by eating the berry and digesting the seeds, yet not harming them. The bird's droppings, which contain the seeds, will hit a branch and then the seed will start to germinate. When there is an abundance of mistletoe berries, Phainopeplas will congregate in the hundreds; otherwise, they are hard to find. (Reader's Digest, 1998)
Key behaviors:
flies; motile .
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)
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
The Phainopepla does not seem to directly affect humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The Phainopepla does not seem to directly affect humans.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
(Reader's Digest, 1998)
Other Comments
The Phainopepla's existence varies year to year. They depend on their very unstable food source, mistletoe berries. (Reader's Digest, 1998)
Contributors
Christen Lima (author), Milford High School.
George Campbell (editor), Milford High School.
