Northern Cardinal Cardinalis Cardinalis
This winter, before the Covid-19 outbreak hit the U.S. in force, I got to spend a month in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. This is an area where species usually found far south of the U.S. sometimes stray north and are seen in our country. I'm a birder, and a "lister." Listing is where a birder keeps a list of all of the species they see in a given area.
Female Northern Cardinal
The American Birding Association Area, or ABA Area is the United States, Canada and a few close-by islands. While in Texas two species of the genus Cardinalis were common sightings.
Pyrrhuloxia Cardinalis sinuatis
Northern Cardinal was found really everywhere, but especially where bird-feeding setups were happening. They are common throughout most of the eastern and southern U.S., but being from Washington State, in the Pacific NW of the U.S. they are not found at all in our state. It was a treat to see them every day in Texas. Note the bright red bill in both male and female Northern Cardinal, and the yellow bill on the Pyrrhuloxia.
Northern Cardinal X Pyrrhuloxia hybrid
Pyrrhuloxia is a closely related species that favors drier habitats, and whose range is more restricted in the U.S. to the southwestern areas. It was seen much less often in TX
On one occasion I was able to see a very uncommon hybrid Northern Cardinal x Pyrrhuloxia male at a feeder in Brownsville, TX. A real treat for me.
Northern Cardinal male
Good Birding and Good Day!
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