144 



THE OOLOGIST 



Some Western Birds — Phainopepla. 



It is safe to state that every bird- 

 lover has some favorite amongst the 

 numerous species of tlie feathered 

 tribe familiar to him, of which the 

 first appearance in the spring is more 

 eagerly awaited than that of any other 

 bird. Should I be asked to name my 

 favorite from the nearly four hundred 

 species and sub-species known to 

 Southern California, my unhesitating 

 choice would be — Phainopepla Nitens. 

 The bird is peculiar to the south- 

 western portion of the United States, 

 ranging from the Mexican Valley 

 north to southern Utah and Nevada; 

 and from the Rio Grande through New 

 Mexico and Arizona to the Pacific. 

 Under any circumstances this interest- 

 ing species would be welcome to the 

 ornithologist, but how much more so 

 when found in the dry arid regions o^ 

 the West where bird-life is scarce, of- 

 ten the other species being numbered 

 on the fingers of one hand. 



His neat and immaculate appear- 

 ance always arouses immediate ad- 

 miration and attention. The male, 

 glossy blue-black except for pure white 

 patches on the inner webs of the 

 primaries, presents a striking picture 

 as he flies leisurely from one perch to 

 another. The female is more sombre 

 in dress, the shining coat of the male 

 being replaced by a dull grayish brown 

 coloring and the white wing patches 

 not being so much in evidence. Both 

 sexes boast a long narrow crest like 

 that of a cockatoo, by means of which 

 the bird is able to express varying 

 emotions. When curiosity is aroused 

 this crest is raised and lowered in an 

 inquiring manner, but let anger get 

 the upper hand and it fairly bristles 

 with rage as the bird shrieks his harsh 

 note of alarm. 



Like his Eastern cousin the Cedar 

 Waxwing, our Phainopepla feeds on 

 various berries and insects. Pepper, 



mistletoe, and elder berries are most 

 in demand. The insects are taken on 

 the wing in the same manner as by 

 the flycatchers, a habit which gives 

 him one of his numerous local names, 

 "Black Flycatcher." In California the 

 ranchers also call this bird "Wax- 

 wing," "White-winged Blackbird," and 

 "Black Mockingbird"; the last name 

 probably suggested by his manner of 

 flight: the leisurely direct movement 

 being similar to that of the Mocking- 

 bird. Often the Phainopepla will leave 

 his perch, hover in the air above it for 

 a moment and then return, much as 

 does the Bluebird. 



While not remarkable for his vocal 

 powers, the Phainopepla possesses a 

 variety of notes, especially through 

 the breeding season. The commonest 

 call has been likened to that of a 

 young Robin. The alarm-note is a 

 harsh protracted chatter, accompanied 

 by a raising and lowering of the crest. 

 Throughout the period of courtship, 

 nest-building, and incubation, the male 

 sings almost incessantly during the 

 daytime. Selecting a perch near his 

 mate he utters a few notes, flies 

 straight up into the air, performs vari- 

 ous aerial feats; and then returns to 

 the side of his companion, pouring 

 forth a continuous medley of weak 

 "rusty" notes (if the word may be al- 

 lowed), though not unpleasant to the 

 ear. 



As with other birds, the Phainopepla 

 is most interesting in the breeding 

 season. In Southern California the 

 birds begin to arrive early in April, 

 and from May to July the nests may 

 be found in the dry sandy washes and 

 arroyos of the Lower Sonoran zone, a 

 region inhabited by the Valley Quail, 

 Roadrunner, and Cactus Wren. Oak, 

 elder and pepper trees are favorite 

 nesting-sites, as well as junipers, wil- 

 lows, sycamores and clumps of mistle- 

 toe. 



