Mystery Bird: Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens

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[Mystery bird] Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 2006 [larger view].

Date Time Original: 2006:05:07 07:33:04
Exposure Time: 1/200
F-Number: 14.00
ISO: 200

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:

There are birds that are instantly recognizable once we "know" them, but those same species can be puzzling when encountered for the first time or out of range. In the American southwest, a long-tailed, dusky bird perched at the tip of a dead twig is often a Phainopepla, the darkest and most northerly of the silkies.

Shape identifies this bird right away to birders who are the least bit familiar with the species. In addition to the long tail and short wing, note the small, markedly square head, the spiky crest, and the short, rather undistinguished bill of a frugivore and flycatcher.

In the field, we would likely hear this bird giving its soft, sweet hooting call, and when it flushed, we'd see the bird fly off in a distinctive stuttering flight, stalling mid-air, then recovering with a few fast wingbeats.

Review all mystery birds to date.

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Ah! Phainopepla! I ADORE those birds, and hardly ever get to see them! (I think their range extends into California, but I've never seen one here. Or, maybe I'm wrong about the range. I didn't need to open a field guide to ID this photo. :D).

And yeah, that's an adult male, and since John already mentioned the scary red eye, I'll go with . . . sweet little feathery crest on the head! Um, yeah. Really, this isn't a bird that's likely to be confused with anything else, is it?

Adult male Phainopepla. The silky black feathers and crested head are dead giveaways, and it's right for the location.

By Selasphorus (not verified) on 29 Oct 2008 #permalink

I think it's one of these, and probably hangs out with one of these in the springtime!

By Albatrossity (not verified) on 29 Oct 2008 #permalink

Goth blackbird indeed! Yes, a male Phainopepla with all black feathering (except on the folded part of the wing), evil red eye and a crest.

Bronzed Cowbird.
Don't be misled by the Halloween costume - Fred Astaire in top hat and tails.

Goth blackbird indeed! Yes, a male Phainopepla with all black feathering (except on the folded part of the wing), evil red eye and a crest.

Sheri, that made me laugh.