The Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens, is the only member of the small family Ptilogonatidae that occurs in the United States. There are four other species that occur farther to the south. It occurs in the southwestern United States and on down to central Mexico.
Although it has some habits similar to flycatchers, it will also take fruits and vegetables in addition to invertebrates.
The only place that I have personally seen this bird was at Joshua Tree National Monument in southern California.
Classification:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ptilogonatidae
Genus: Phainopepla
Species: P. nitens
Photos:
Phainopepla near Phoenix
"I only got one shot of this bird and this was it, how lucky can you be."
Phainopepla
"Phainopepla at Red Spring, NV 11-25-08. Digiscoped with a Pentax Optio W30 through a Zeiss Diascope FL 85."
