Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyPtilogonatidae
- GenusPhainopepla
- SpeciesPhainopepla nitens (Phainopepla)
About the Phainopepla
The phainopepla or northern phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptiliogonatidae, the silky flycatchers. Its name is from the Greek phain pepla meaning "shining robe" in reference to the male's plumage.
The phainopepla is a striking bird, 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) long with a noticeable crest and a long tail; it is slender, and has an upright posture when it perches. Its bill is short and slender. The male is glossy black, and has a white wing patch that is visible when it flies; the female is plain gray and has a lighter gray wing patch. Both sexes have red eyes, but these are more noticeable in the female than the male.
The phainopepla ranges as far north as central California with the San Joaquin Valley and southern Utah, and south to central Mexico, the interior Mexican Plateau region; the southern edge of the plateau, the transverse mountains is its non-breeding home. It is found in hot areas, including desert oases, and is readily seen in the deserts of Arizona, southern Nevada, and southern California; also the Baja Peninsula, both Baja California-(north), and... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
Abert's Towhee
Melozone aberti
Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
Curve-billed Thrasher
Toxostoma curvirostre
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 9 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 14 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Phainopepla in Saguaro National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Phainopepla sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 25,239 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Phainopepla in Saguaro National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Phainopepla in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.