BULLETIN 19 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



In watcbing the birds at their nests, I found that they had a number of calls. 

 The commonest was uttered in the same tone by both male and female, and was 

 like the call of a young Robin. In giving it, they flashed their tails, showing the 

 square corners conspicuously. The male also had a harsh cry of warning, drawn 

 out lilie ca-raclc or ca-ra-ack. In addition, he had a scold and a note suggesting 

 the Meadowlark. The Phainopepla's ordinary song had some weak squeaking 

 notes, but it also had phrases of rich blackbird quality, recalling the o-ka-lee of 

 the marshes. One of these was a high keyed whee'-dle-ah. Other parts could be 

 roughly syllabified as kit-er-ah-at and cher-nack'-cc. The song in flight was 

 bright and animated. I once heard a bird break out as he came down from a 

 sally into the air, and he often flew away from the nest singing. Sometimes I 

 thought he even sang in the nest. * * * Indeed, to me the Phainopepla's 

 song was pleasing in spite of its jumbled notes, not merely because of the flute- 

 like quality of some of its tones, but pre-eminently because of the bright, viva- 

 cious way in which it was uttered. 



Field marks. — Both sexes may be recognized by the high crest, 

 slender form, the flaring end of the tail, and by their characteristic 

 manner of flight. When the male is in flight, the disklike white wing 

 patches contrasting with the otherwise black plmnage are unmistak- 

 able. Even the nestlings may be rather easily identified by their erect 

 crests. The adults seldom lower their crests — perhaps only when 

 angry or when facing a stiff wind. 



Enemies. — Obviously, few if any of the phainopepla's enemies are 

 terrestrial. Although the birds express marked disapproval of cats, 

 it is hard to see how the latter would be able to harm them, except in 

 cases of disabled adults or young birds fallen from the nest. While 

 no reports are at hand, their nests undoubtedly suffer to some extent 

 from the smaller climbing and flying predators. Dr. Herbert Fried- 

 mann (1929) lists this species as "apparently a rare victim of 

 the * * * Cowbirds," with but one record known. Concerning 

 any possible enemies which might attack the adults, there is little 

 information. 



To be classed as a persecutor rather than a dangerous enemy, the 

 mockingbird displays an unreasonable spite against the phainopepla, 

 pursuing this inoffensive bird upon every opportunity. Mrs. Myers 

 (1909), telling of the successive nesting failures of a pair of phaino- 

 peplas, surmised that abandonment of their nesting sites might well 

 have been the result of persistent persecution by mockingbirds. 



With only two or three eggs to the set, and with but one rather slow- 

 growing brood yearly in some localities, at least, the phainopepla's 

 mortality rate must be unusually low as compared with that of other 

 passerine birds. The impression received in field observation of the 

 species is definitely that of a shy, timid bird, perhaps even more by 

 reason of its manner than its actions. Possibly this constant attitude 

 of wariness and suspicion is of substantial benefit in prolonging its life 

 span and making unnecessary a high rate of increase. 



