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Phainopepla nitens

(Swainson, 1838)

Phainopepla

G5Secure Found in 154 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens). © Greg Homel; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Greg Homel; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens). © Ruslan Balagansky; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Ruslan Balagansky; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens). © Marky Mutchler; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Marky Mutchler; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens). © Alan Knowles; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Alan Knowles; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens). © Fernando Ortega; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Fernando Ortega; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens). © Mason Maron; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Mason Maron; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104859
Element CodeABPBP03010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyPtiliogonatidae
GenusPhainopepla
Other Common Names
Capulinero Negro (ES) Phénopèple luisant (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-03
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: central California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, southern New Mexico, and western Texas south to southern Baja California and central mainland of Mexico. WINTERS: southern California, southern Nevada, central Arizona, southern New Mexico, western and southern Texas south to northwestern Oaxaca, Pueblo and west-central Veracruz, Mexico (AOU 1983).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Desert scrub, mesquite, juniper and oak woodland, tall brush, riparian woodland and orchards (Tropical to Temperate zones) (AOU 1983). Nests in trees or shrubs from 1-15 m above ground. Nest built mostly by male.

Ecology

Travels in small flocks, except when nesting. Average territory size is 0.4 ha in desert, 0.03 ha in woodlands (Walsberg 1977).

Reproduction

Breeds March-April in Colorado Desert, late May-July in coastal oak and riparian woodlands; 1-3 broods/year. Usually 2-3 eggs are incubated by both sexes (possibly mainly by male) for 14-15 days. Young are tended by both sexes, leave nest in 18 days.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralDesert
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS3Yes
UtahS1Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
TexasS4BYes
Navajo NationS1BYes
New MexicoS4B,S4NYes
ArizonaS5Yes
Roadless Areas (154)
Arizona (75)
AreaForestAcres
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Arnold MesaTonto National Forest249
Ash CreekPrescott National Forest7,663
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
Black River CanyonApache-Sitgreaves National Forests11,817
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Boulder CanyonCoconino National Forest4,554
Boulder CanyonCoconino National Forest4,554
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
CenterfireApache-Sitgreaves National Forests13,130
Cherry CreekTonto National Forest11,371
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Cimarron HillsCoconino National Forest5,303
Connell MountainsPrescott National Forest7,926
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Grief HillPrescott National Forest12,535
Grief HillPrescott National Forest12,535
HackberryCoconino National Forest17,885
HackberryPrescott National Forest914
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest1,165
Lower Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest1,165
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Lower Romero WSRCoronado National Forest10
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Mitchell PeakApache-Sitgreaves National Forests35,398
MuldoonPrescott National Forest5,821
NolanApache-Sitgreaves National Forests6,780
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
Padre CanyonCoconino National Forest9,431
PicachoTonto National Forest4,969
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousPrescott National Forest3,129
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest6,518
SalomeTonto National Forest2,932
Santa RitaCoronado National Forest6,078
Santa RitaCoronado National Forest6,078
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Sheridan MountainPrescott National Forest37,600
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
SunsetApache-Sitgreaves National Forests28,948
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,533
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
Walker MountainCoconino National Forest6,382
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
California (55)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
La BreaLos Padres National Forest14,031
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Lion RidgeSequoia National Forest5,265
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
QuatalLos Padres National Forest7,253
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
New Mexico (20)
AreaForestAcres
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Blue Range WildernessGila National Forest1,980
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Poverty CreekGila National Forest8,770
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
San JoseCibola National Forest16,950
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Scott MesaCibola National Forest39,515
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Taylor CreekGila National Forest16,639
Wahoo MountainGila National Forest23,122
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
MogotsuDixie National Forest16,762
References (19)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, <i>Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus</i>. Condor 73:287-302.
  4. Banks, R. C., and M. R. Browning. 1995. Comments on the status of revived old names for some North American birds. Auk 112:633-648.
  5. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  6. Bureau of Land Management. Life History Summaries.
  7. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  8. Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
  9. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  10. Ligon, J. D. 1971. Late summer-autumnal breeding of the piñon jay in New Mexico. Condor 73:147-153.
  11. Moore, W. S., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1989. The use of banding recovery data to estimate dispersal rates and gene flow in avian species: case studies in the Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Condor 91:242-253.
  12. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  13. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  14. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  15. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  16. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  17. Walsberg, G. E. 1977. Ecology and energetics of contrasting social systems in Phainopepla nitens [sic] (Aves: Ptilogonatidae). Univ. California Pub. Zool. 108:1- 63.
  18. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  19. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.