The Phainopepla is found year round southern Arizona and California as well as along the western half of California up to just past the Bay area.

During the summer season, the Phainopepla also travels into much of the rest of Arizona, into extreme southwest Utah, also eastward into Basin and Range region of New Mexico and west Texas

The Phainopepla is scarce and sometimes are in small flocks and frequents various open areas and normally perches conspicuously. Flycatches durig summer and feeds on berries, especially on mistletoe.

Male is glossy black with a prominent crest and has white wing patch seen in flight on the primary arms but not the tips.

Female and immature are gray in color with pale wing pathes.

While at Davis Mountains State Park, a desert bird that shows up for a drink of water is a Phainopepla, a name that took me more than one try to pronounce.