Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatus

Photo by Bobsofpa

Identification

The Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) is a medium-sized North American bird in the same genus as the Northern Cardinal and the Vermilion Cardinal, which is a South American species. Its name comes from Greek terms describing its coloration (πυρρος = pyrrhos = reddish or orange) and the shape of its bill (λοξος = loxos = oblique, hence crossbill). Similar to the female and juvenile Northern Cardinal, the Pyrrhuloxia's thick, strongly curved, parrot-like orange-yellow bill helps identify it. The male is 7-1/2 to 8-1/2 inches long and is grey overall, with red on the face, crest, wings, tail and underparts. The female shows little or no red; the bill is a dull yellow.

Distribution

It is primarily a resident of Mexico, but can be found in the southern parts of the U.S. states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Habitat

This bird is fairly common in thorny brush and mesquite thickets of dry streambeds, desert, woodland edges and ranchlands.

Behaviour

The song is a liquid whistle, thinner and shorter than the song of the Northern Cardinal. The call is a sharp "chink".

In a loosely built cup of grass, twigs, and bark strips concealed in dense, thorny bush, 3 or 4 white eggs, lightly speckled with brown, are laid. These birds feed on seeds and insects and benefit cotton fields by destroying great numbers of cotton worms and weevils. When approached, a pair will fly up to a high watch post, erect their crests, and sound a loud alarm.

External Links

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