Posted by John Tobias on January 20, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Took this photo 4 years ago in Arizona on the grounds of the Desert Museum. It was just a quick snap shot and the bird was gone. I think maybe a phainopepla, but the beak is lighter than the photo in my bird book.
Thank you for helping.
Posted by Drew Fulton on January 20, 2010 at 12:49 PM
John,
Assuming this is a native species and not something from the Desert Museum (don't know if they have aviaries or anything), it would have to be a Phainopepla. I've only seen the species once before so can't comment much on the beak but there is nothing else in the US that is black and has a crest like that.
Drew
Posted by Mia McPherson on January 20, 2010 at 1:38 PM
John,
I don't think the bill is light, to me there appears to be some OOF vegetation crossing the bill much like the spot on the front of the chest. I would say this is a Phainopepla
Posted by John Tobias on January 20, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Mia, I think you are right about the out of focus branch. It was not taken in an exhibit but on the grounds of the Museum. I had not paid much attention to the image, since it was just a quick snap shot. But, thanks to NPN I have become much more interested in bird photography and was going through some old files as I was organizing my photos. Thank you for your comments.
Posted by Richard Ditch on January 20, 2010 at 9:58 PM
Phainopepla - male. Note the red eye. The bill is crossed by a leaf and that's why the color looks light.
Discussion
4 repliesThank you for helping.
Assuming this is a native species and not something from the Desert Museum (don't know if they have aviaries or anything), it would have to be a Phainopepla. I've only seen the species once before so can't comment much on the beak but there is nothing else in the US that is black and has a crest like that.
Drew
I don't think the bill is light, to me there appears to be some OOF vegetation crossing the bill much like the spot on the front of the chest. I would say this is a Phainopepla