Phainopepla
PhainopeplaPhainopeplaPhainopeplaPhainopepla

Phainopepla

Phainopepla nitens

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Big Bend National Park
268 Verified records at Big Bend National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The phainopepla or northern phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptiliogonatidae, the silky flycatchers. Its name is from the Greek phain pepla meaning "shining robe" in reference to the male's plumage. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Phainopepla sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 268 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Big Bend National Park

Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

60–70% · Likely
Cactus Wren
LC

Cactus Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

60–70% · Likely
Pyrrhuloxia
LC

Pyrrhuloxia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis sinuatus

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Ash-throated Flycatcher
LC

Ash-throated Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiarchus cinerascens

50–60% · Likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

40–50% · Likely
Canyon Towhee
LC

Canyon Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melozone fusca

40–50% · Likely
Verdin
LC

Verdin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Auriparus flaviceps

40–50% · Likely
Black-throated Sparrow
LC Endemic

Black-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amphispiza bilineata

40–50% · Likely
Mexican Jay
LC

Mexican Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphelocoma wollweberi

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
5–10
Apr
5–10
May
5–10
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
5–10
Nov
10–20
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
2 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
3 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
4 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
5 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
6 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
7 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
10 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
11 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
13 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Phainopepla in Big Bend National Park?

About 6% of wildlife watchers report a Phainopepla sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 268 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Phainopepla in Big Bend National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Phainopepla in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.

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