Photo: Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is a member of the Ptiliogonatidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 22.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Ptiliogonatidae Silky-flycatchers
- Genus Phainopepla
- Species nitens
Where it lives
Southwestern USA to north-central, northwestern Mexico
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.1 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Ptiliogonatidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Phainopepla is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Phainopepla is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) belongs to the Ptiliogonatidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sw USA to nc, nw Mexico.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.1 g, with a wing length of about 9.3 cm and a tail of around 9.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Phainopepla?
The Phainopepla is a small bird that weighs around 22.1 g.
Where does the Phainopepla live?
The Phainopepla is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sw USA to nc, nw Mexico, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Phainopepla belong to?
The Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) belongs to the Ptiliogonatidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Phainopepla eat?
The Phainopepla is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Phainopepla migrate?
The Phainopepla is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Phainopepla endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Phainopepla make?
1 real field recording of the Phainopepla — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Phainopepla's range?
The Phainopepla has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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