California · Year-round resident

Phainopeplas in California

When phainopeplas are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.

Silky-flycatchers (Ptiliogonatidae)PhainopeplaPhainopepla nitens

Status in California: Year-round resident
Nesting window: January–April
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5a–11a

When to expect phainopeplas in California

Phainopeplas live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.

Nesting in California

Across California, phainopeplas typically nest from January–April. Plan around that window: January for setup, April for clean-out.

Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.

Phainopeplas don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after April.

Native California plants that attract phainopeplas

Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover phainopeplas use:

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood

Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Golden currant

Ribes aureum · Shrub

Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.

Western serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Buffaloberry

Shepherdia argentea · Shrub

Tart red fruit that persists into winter.

Prickly pear

Opuntia engelmannii · Shrub

Fruit and seed plus nest sites for Cactus Wrens.

Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea · Tree

Night blooms and summer fruit; Gila Woodpecker nest cavities.

Feeding phainopeplas through the California year

Top foods: None — plant desert mistletoe habitat.
In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.

Full diet breakdown for phainopeplas · Best feeder for phainopeplas

Frequently asked

Are phainopeplas in California year-round?

Yes. Phainopeplas are year-round residents in California.

When do phainopeplas nest in California?

Nesting in California typically runs January–April, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–4 eggs, incubated for 14 days.

What native plants attract phainopeplas in California?

Smooth sumac, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Buffaloberry, Prickly pear, Saguaro are native plants in California that provide food or cover for phainopeplas.

Phainopeplas in other regions

Arizona Nevada New Mexico Texas Utah

Other backyard birds in California

Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Pine Siskin Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay California Scrub-Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Oak Titmouse Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch California Towhee Spotted Towhee Gambel's Quail California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Acorn Woodpecker Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Nuttall's Woodpecker Cactus Wren Verdin Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Western Tanager Hooded Oriole Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee California Thrasher Clark's Nutcracker Yellow-billed Magpie Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo Western Kingbird Vermilion Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Blue Grosbeak Cactus Wren Greater Roadrunner Yellow-billed Cuckoo Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.