Skip to main content

Phainopepla

Phainopepla nitens

Photo by JudyCrawford
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

33.6037, -114.217

Field Notes

Description:

Medium-sized songbird.
Tall, wispy crest.
Slender, with long tail.
Male shiny black.
Female all gray.

Habitat:

Desert, riparian woodlands, and chaparral

Notes:

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says this bird rarely drinks water, but as you can see he is at my "watering hole" for a drink of water.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)

No, they don't have a common name. The word Phainopepla comes from the Greek for "shining robe". It is a very pretty shiney black when the sun is on it.
I hope to see one someday. Anza-Borrego is on our vaca list for the spring!
No common name that I know of. A pair lived in my brother's old back yard near SDSU years ago, but I haven't seen them in the city since then. I've seen them out at Anza-Borrego State Park though. They have a sweet voice.
Photographed
PublishedOctober 16, 2011

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon