- SCIENTIFIC NAME
- Phainopepla nitens
- CLASSIFICATION
- Bird
- LIFE SPAN
- 1-6 Years
- STATE CONSERVATION STATUS
-
- State Protected
- FEDERAL CONSERVATION STATUS
- Least Concern
- GAME STATUS
- Non-Game
- GAME TYPE
- None
- Washoe
- Humboldt
- Pershing
- Churchill
- Mineral
- Lyon
- Douglas
- Carson City
- Storey
- Elko
- Lander
- Eureka
- White Pine
- Esmeralda
- Nye
- Lincoln
- Clark
Habitat & Range
In Nevada, Phainopeplas are mostly found in the southern part of the state, especially in desert washes and mesquite bosques, and other areas with scattered trees and shrubs. During the winter, some may move to lower desert valleys in southern Nevada and nearby areas of Arizona.
- Desert Washes
- Mesquite Bosque
- Warm desert riparian
Threats
- Habitat Loss
- Predation
Phainopeplas are monogamous, and pairs usually raise one brood per year. Each brood contains two to four light gray eggs with fine dark speckles. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about 15 days. After hatching, the young stay in the nest for about 18 to 19 days before they are ready to leave and start learning to forage on their own.
From fall through spring, their diet is mostly fruit, including desert mistletoe berries, boxthorn, elderberry, redberry, juniper, and sumac. They play an important role in spreading these seeds through their droppings, helping plants grow in desert habitats. When fruit is scarce, they will also eat flying insects, beetles, and caterpillars, catching them in midair or plucking them from vegetation.
Fun Facts
OTHER Species
