Phainopepla Observed on Barley Flats, San Gabriel Mountains, California
Phainopepla Observed on Barley Flats, San Gabriel Mountains, California
On December 30, 1932, while engaged in a botanical survey of the Barley Flats area, north of Mount Wilson in the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, my attention was called to a single female Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens).
The elevation of Barley Flats at the place of observation is 6500 feet. At the time of observation, snow covered the entire region to a depth of about a foot.
The bird was observed first at 11 a. m. and again at 2 p. m. and lastly at 3:30 p. m. This would seem to indicate no desire on the part of the bird to leave this location. It seems strange that the Phainopepla, ordinarily so closely associated with a warm environment, should visit so cold a one when the Mohave Desert is no great distance away.
L. E. Hoffman
University of Southern Ca,lifornia, Los Angeles, California, March 22, 1983
