12th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Breakfast
Phainopepla nitens is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptiliogonatidae, the silky flycatchers. Its name is from the Greek phain pepla meaning "shining robe" in reference to the male's plumage. Phainopepla have a specialized mechanism in their gizzard that shucks berry skins off the fruit and packs the skins separately from the rest of the fruit into the intestines for more efficient digestion. So far this is the only known bird able to do this.
Photo Detail
Date Taken: | 07.2014 |
Date Uploaded: | 11.2014 |
Photo Location: | San Miguel de Allende, Mexico |
Copyright: | © Erika Hernandez |