There are four species of birds in the Ptiliogonatidae family, which are commonly known as silky flycatchers. These small to medium-sized songbirds are named for their soft, silky-looking feathers. They have long tails, short, wide bills, and strong wings that help them catch insects while flying. Many species have smooth gray, black, or white feathers, and males are often more brightly colored than females.

Silky flycatchers are found mainly in Central America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. They live in a variety of habitats, including dry forests, tropical forests, deserts, scrublands, and mountain forests.

The diet of silky flycatchers includes berries, fruits, and insects. Many species eat large amounts of berries, especially during the winter when insects are harder to find. They also catch flying insects in the air, a behavior called aerial hawking.

During the breeding season, silky flycatchers build small cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs. The female usually lays two to four eggs. Males and females care for the chicks. Some species form small colonies while nesting, while others build nests alone. Both parents feed and protect the chicks until they are ready to leave the nest.

The Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is the only species in this family found in the U.S. It lives in deserts, scrublands, and open woodlands from California and the southwestern United States south into Mexico. Like the waxwings, it has a crest on its head. Males are glossy black with white wing patches that are easy to see in flight, while females are gray. The Phainopepla is especially fond of mistletoe berries, but it also eats juniper berries, elderberries, and insects.