PHAINOPEPLA
by
Walter L. Meagher
Photos by Wayne Colony
The Phainopepla has three attractions for me: the obscurity of its name, which in Greek means ‘shining robe’, its distinctively western range – a Texas bird that is at home in El Charco scrubland – and its flycatcher-like bold, solemn perching pose.
Like a Vermilion Flycatcher, the Phainopepla will sally forth and catch an insect on the wing; but it has another food source, one that adds a great deal of interest to the bird’s character: mistletoe.
Fruitarians part of the year, Phainopeplas glean for mistletoe berries; when found, a male might decide to protect the source for himself and his family. Viscum album, the European mistletoe of Christmas fame, does not grow in El Charco, but it is common in North America, as are its many cousins. One of these does grow in El Charco – Psittacanthus calyculatus – infecting an old mesquite tree with its parasitic haustoria. In fact, this hemi-parasite can be seen, gleaming orange, in treetops throughout the town, arousing the indignation of homeowners that something must be done to save the trees.
The bird itself is the propagator of the mistletoe, for the berries, which are sticky, stick to its feet and are carried from tree to tree. On a clean branch, and after a few days, the mistletoe grows a thread-like root. The root pierces the bark and penetrates to the living tissue of the wood. One mistletoe ‘plant’ will not kill a tree, but the infections increase as the mistletoe colony is tended by its arboriculturist, the Phainopepla.
Wayne’s photograph shows the male’s coiffure: crested hair combed in a modern style. Crested hairdos are certainly one attraction of a small number of birds. The Kingfisher, Northern Cardinal, Pileated Woodpecker and jays all come to mind; and the Cedar Waxwing to which Phainopepla is closely related. Like a top hat, the crest elevates the bird above the commonality of birdkind, perhaps conferring an advantage in courtship and territorial squabbles.