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The pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) on first glance may appear as a cross of the parrot and cardinal. The name of this bird is derived from two Greek words, "pyrrhos" meaning flame colored and "loxos" meaning slanting. The color has reddish or "flame-like" highlights and the beak is curved which attributes to both Greek words.

This species presents a tropical aura as it becomes alert however; the pyrrhuloxia is not found in tropical regions and prefers arid scrublands. Found in the south and southwest regions of the United States and northern Mexico, the pyrrhuloxia is a distinctive songbird sounding out the song "what-cheer, what-cheer" over this dry region of land.

In the wild, the pyrrhuloxia is sometimes mistaken for the cardinal. The plumage of the female of both species are so closely identical, it takes a keen eye to search out the curved beak to distinguish these two species. Another similarity between the pyrrhuloxia and cardinal species include their deep loyalty towards their mate. It is not uncommon to gaze the male pyrrhuloxia foraging for berries and delivering some of the fruits of his labor to his female companion. Known as "courtship feeding", both the males of the pyrrhuloxia and cardinal species court their mates in this manner.

The pyrrhuloxia is crested with a hefty, parrot-like bill that is yellow in color. The male pyrrhuloxia is generally gray with a red crest, face, throat, breast, the wings, and tail. The female is similar in appearance but has a more grayish colored buff. A middle-sized wild bird, the pyrrhuloxia is generally 7 to 8 inches in length and will weigh less than 3 ounces.

The pyrrhuloxia forage for fruits, seeds, and small insects that can be found in their habitat. Their habitat consists of thorny desert brush, thickets that surround streams and even backyard gardens. The couple builds a cup-shaped nest above ground in the brush that is generally comprised of twigs, bark, and grass. The female typically lays 2 to 5 eggs that are greenish-white with brown spots. The eggs incubate for approximately 14 days and the young leave the nest in a matter of 10 short days following being hatched.

Depending upon the region, pyrrhuloxia remain in their territory year round while others travel. For birdwatchers who live along the Texas Gulf Coast and the southeast regions of Arizona, this beautiful bird can be seen during the winter months foraging on their favorite winter treat, the Christmas cactus. Their main threat like with most wild species is humans. The development and clearing of land areas that are known to be habitats for these birds have affected their populations. This species is not threatened or endangered and currently appears to have healthy population numbers.

References:

BOOK OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS, Reader's Digest, copyright 1990.

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