Pyrrhuloxia
(Cardinalis sinuatus) Just south off Falcon Lake, Tx. This year's sighting was somewhat disappointing after our experience with the species at Falcon SP. After failing to locate any in the park, we left. A couple of km outside the entrance, my wife Nana spotted this one at the top of tree. I could only see the bird from the backlit side, so it was impossible to get it in better light or angle. Still, better than not seeing it at all. And it was singing, too!
"The Pyrrhuloxia or Desert Cardinal is a medium-sized North American song bird found in the American southwest and northern Mexico. This distinctive species with a short, stout bill and red crest and wings, and resembles the Northern cardinal and the Vermilion cardinal which are in the same genus." (Wikipedia)
And from Cornell's Lab of Ornithology:
• Foraging winter flocks of Pyrrhuloxias may number as many as 1,000 birds.
• The name "Pyrrhuloxia" is a combination of the genus names Pyrrhula (bullfinches) and Loxia (crossbills). The roots mean "flame-colored" and "crooked," and aptly describe the reddish bird with the crooked bill.
• The Pyrrhuloxia has very similar vocalizations and behaviors to the closely related Northern Cardinal, which is found in the same range but tends to live in wetter habitats.
• When a male Pyrrhuloxia’s and a male cardinal’s territories overlap, each defends its territory vigorously from members of its own species, but they don’t seem to fight with each other.
• On a day when outdoor temperatures reached 118°F, a Pyrrhuloxia was seen sitting on a terrace in the air-conditioned breeze coming out of a house. This canny behavior has also been observed in Cactus Wrens and Loggerhead Shrikes.
• Though they will drink at pools of water when possible, Pyrrhuloxias seem to get most of their water from their insect food in spring and summer.
• The oldest Pyrrhuloxia on record was a male, and at least 8 years, 1 month old when he was recaught and rereleased during banding operations in Arizona.
Pyrrhuloxia
(Cardinalis sinuatus) Just south off Falcon Lake, Tx. This year's sighting was somewhat disappointing after our experience with the species at Falcon SP. After failing to locate any in the park, we left. A couple of km outside the entrance, my wife Nana spotted this one at the top of tree. I could only see the bird from the backlit side, so it was impossible to get it in better light or angle. Still, better than not seeing it at all. And it was singing, too!
"The Pyrrhuloxia or Desert Cardinal is a medium-sized North American song bird found in the American southwest and northern Mexico. This distinctive species with a short, stout bill and red crest and wings, and resembles the Northern cardinal and the Vermilion cardinal which are in the same genus." (Wikipedia)
And from Cornell's Lab of Ornithology:
• Foraging winter flocks of Pyrrhuloxias may number as many as 1,000 birds.
• The name "Pyrrhuloxia" is a combination of the genus names Pyrrhula (bullfinches) and Loxia (crossbills). The roots mean "flame-colored" and "crooked," and aptly describe the reddish bird with the crooked bill.
• The Pyrrhuloxia has very similar vocalizations and behaviors to the closely related Northern Cardinal, which is found in the same range but tends to live in wetter habitats.
• When a male Pyrrhuloxia’s and a male cardinal’s territories overlap, each defends its territory vigorously from members of its own species, but they don’t seem to fight with each other.
• On a day when outdoor temperatures reached 118°F, a Pyrrhuloxia was seen sitting on a terrace in the air-conditioned breeze coming out of a house. This canny behavior has also been observed in Cactus Wrens and Loggerhead Shrikes.
• Though they will drink at pools of water when possible, Pyrrhuloxias seem to get most of their water from their insect food in spring and summer.
• The oldest Pyrrhuloxia on record was a male, and at least 8 years, 1 month old when he was recaught and rereleased during banding operations in Arizona.