adult male; glossy black, prominent crest (California, USA; 2011-02-22)


Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens

Native Range: North America and Middle America

Notes: slim body and prominent crest in both sexes; desert scrub, mesquite, and oak foothills; usually assocated with mistletoe which it uses for nesting, roosting, and feeding; eats berries and flies.

juvenile male; somesome white on wing (California, USA; 2009-11-21)
female; gray where male is darker black (California, USA; 2007-02-02)

female; white edges on wing feathers (California, USA; 2007-04-21)
female, dorsal view; crest and red iris too (California, USA; 2007-02-02)

courtship feeding (California, USA; 2011-06-04)
male courtship flight; white wing patches (California, USA; 2006-07-30)

male; bright red iris (California, USA; 2007-02-02)
juvenile male (California, USA; 2009-11-21)