pyrrhuloxia

Shortly after sunrise, a male handsome Pyrrhuloxia perched on a Mesquite tree.

The pyrrhuloxia or desert cardinal is a North American songbird found in southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico.

Pyrrhuloxia working his territory near the Sky Islands in Eastern Arizona.

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus sinuatus) Male and female.

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus sinuatus) Female.

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus sinuatus) Male & female. It appears as if the male might have stepped out of line (lol).

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus sinuatus) Male.

Also known as a desert cardinal, grey cardinal, and sometimes "Arizona cardinal." Apparently the odd name is from the Latin and Greek and refers to the shape of the bill.

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus subsp. sinuatus) Male, species sexually dimorphic. Falcon State Park, Falcon Reservoir, Falcon Heights, Starr County, Texas, USA. Hiding in Guajillo (Acacia berlandieri: Fabacae). Tamualipan Scrub within the South Texas Plains Vegetational Area at 85 m (279 ft)...

I rarely get to see these beautiful relatives to the Cardinal, so when I do, it is a bonus day for me!! And then to have one hang around for photos...well, I am like a kid in a candy store!! This is the C.s. peninsulae subspecies

Also known as Desert Cardinal. I was getting antsy about yesterday's morning tour running late. I had a long drive to make to my evening class and thought I really ought to get going. But the tour guide urged me to stay just a few more minutes. She was also going to that same evening class. We...

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatis) Typical male Pyrrhuloxia showing no markings of a hybrid bird. Photographed just outside of Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, USA. Desert mountain valley and Sonoita Creek riparian at ca. 1,233 m (4,044 ft) elevation.

Pyrrhuloxia x Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis sinuatus x Cardinalis cardinalis superbus) This putative hybrid has an orange bill indicative of a Northern Cardinal, partial black facial markings, bleeding of red feathers on the chest and belly distorting the distinctive broad, jagged, red band down...

I thought this was a female cardinal when I took this shot but was surprised and happy to be wrong. Another lifer.

Cardinalis sinuatas - cardenal desrtico - pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatas - cardenal desrtico - pyrrhuloxia

Pyrrhuloxia

Picture was taken at a Rancher's property in Arizona.

Picture was taken at a Rancher's property in Arizona.

This bird is known as the Arizona Cardinal. Many times they will be mistaken for a female Northern Cardinal. The gray-yellow beak is a good tell that it is a Pyrrhuloxia and not a Cardinal. I have 3 or 4 families of each come into the yard, usually staying hidden in the branches and not showing...

Frequent visitors to the backyard. Many Pyrrhuloxia's are confused with female or juvenile Northern Cardinals. They are frequently called the Arizona Cardinal. In the Juvenile's the difference is a rounded bill in the Pyrrhuloxia as opposed to a more pointed bill in the Northern Cardinal. Also...

Mistook for a female cardinal at first. Easiest way to tell the difference is with the beak color. This one has a stubby yellowish bill, while a female cardinal will have a red-orange bill. The Pyrrhuloxia has no dark mask on face.