Phainopeplas by Ken _Gilliland
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Description
I've decided to slightly delay my next release "Songbird ReMix Spiderhunters" for a week or two so I'm taking a tangent and sharing a few images I created with some desert based plants for UltraScenery. To be fair, with this first image, I did replace the Saguaro cactus for that set with my own (Nature's Wonders Saguaro Habitat) and added in my ocotillo and four-winged saltbrush as well. Those additions gave it more the feel of Saguaro National Park (outside of Tucson, AZ). The birds seen in the image are Phainopeplas, which just arrived in our yard and are singing outside my study door. They summer in Southern California to avoid the heat in Arizona. They're right now happily chowing down on all the currant berries (Ribes aureum) in our yard.
The Phainopepla is a sexually dimorphic slender, long-tailed songbird with a distinctive crest. Adult males are glossy black with red eyes and large white patches in the wings (visible in flight). Adult females are mousy grayish brown with red eyes. Immatures are similar to the female but with brownish eyes.
They are found throughout the American Southwest in saguaro cactus forests, desert washes with abundant mistletoe, orchards, chaparral, Joshua tree woodlands, oak and sycamore woodlands. They feed on small berries and flying insects. Depending on the habitat, Phainopeplas can be very territorial. In the desert, they perch atop saguaro and ocotillos, fiercely defending their territories. In woodland areas, however, they share nesting areas. Phainopeplas winter in deserts and summer in woodland areas.
Phainopeplas, when pursued by predators or handled by humans, mimics the calls of other birds.
The name “Phainopepla” comes from the Greek word for “shining robe”. They rarely drink water, getting their moisture from berries instead Phainopeplas love mistletoe berries and can eat over a thousand berries in a day.
Comments (3)
Flint_Hawk Online Now!
What a fantastically realistic desert scene you have created! It makes a fine setting for these birds!
starship64
This is beautiful work!
adorety
Great scene. I like washed out bright desert light effect here.