Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatus

Despite its ungainly name, the Pyrrhuloxia is an appealing bird. Partial to mesquite thickets, these southern cousins of the familiar Northern Cardinal (state bird of 7 US states) birds use their strong bills to crush the mesquite beans. Although shy and difficult to detect in their dense habitat, a pair will fly up to a high watch post when an observer approaches, erect their crests, and sound a loud alarm. The name Pyrrhuloxia comes from Latin and Greek words meaning "bullfinch with a crooked bill." Also called the "Gray Cardinal," you can see in this video that the Pyrrhuloxia is similar to the Northern Cardinal in most respects except that it is often found in flocks after the breeding season.

Be sure to click through the link below to the eNature field guide entry to learn more about this interesting creature.