PHAINOPEPLA
Pronounced fey-no-PEP-la, this crested songbird gets its name from the Greek for “shining robe”, which is fitting for the shiny, jet-black plumage and long head crest of the adult male. Females are more of a dark gray with a shorter crest.
It’s said that Phainopepla have a fondness for mistletoe, reported to eat more than 1,100 mistletoe berries a day when they are available, but they also love flying insects. During breeding season, the Phainopeplas can be solitary and will defend their territory and it’s clumps of mistletoe by driving away other fruit eating birds. During the rest of the year, they are quite social and flocks will gather to feast on fruit crops.