Birds › Desert scrub › Phainopepla

Phainopepla

Phainopepla nitens

One bird can eat over 1,000 desert mistletoe berries in a day, spreading the mistletoe from tree to tree.

Where to see it for real: Leave desert mistletoe growing on mesquite and palo verde trees.

Spot it in the game

Lives in the Desert scrub habitat (Sonoran Desert, Arizona and Mexico).

Phainopepla facts

Family

Silky-flycatchers

Length

7.9 in (20 cm)

Wingspan

11 in (27 cm)

Weight

0.8 oz (24 g)

Diet

Desert mistletoe berries, plus flying insects.

Range

The southwestern United States and Mexico.

Nest

A small, shallow cup, often in a clump of mistletoe; the male builds most of it.

Song

A soft, low "wurp" call and a short warble.

Active

by day

Status

Least Concern on the IUCN Red List: widespread and not at risk.

What the Phainopepla sounds like

How to attract the Phainopepla

Feeder foods, favorite first: fruit. Feeders that hold them: platform feeder. Keep a bird bath full, too.

In the game: fill a feeder with fruit and keep the bird bath full. It is an uncommon visitor, so be patient.

More: bird songs and calls, what to feed birds.

More birds of the desert scrub

Greater RoadrunnerDesert scrubCactus WrenDesert scrubGambel's QuailDesert scrubGila WoodpeckerDesert scrubCurve-billed ThrasherDesert scrubVerdinDesert scrub