The Phainopepla is found in the southwestern part of the United States. It is the northernmost of a group of tropical birds that feed on mistletoe. Phainopepla have a specialized mechanism in their gizzard that shucks berry skins off the fruit and packs the skin 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. Of course the Phainopepla will also feed on insects when berries are scarce. They take insects from the air in long sallies, like a flycatcher. Hence their inclusion in the Silky Flycatchers family.