Field Trip Report: King Gillette Ranch, 13 March 2010 » Phainopepla Female CU

Phainopepla female (L.Johnson 3/13/10 King Gillette)

Male Phainopeplas are glossy-black, the females are grayish-brown. These red-eyed Silky-Flycatchers nest in the inland California deserts late-winter to early spring. When the deserts become too hot, they move to the coastal regions for a second breeding season. They love insects and small berries. Their call is a simple musical wu-rup, like the first part of a “wolf-whistle”.