Mystery Bird: Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus

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[Mystery bird] Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 19 December 2004 [larger view].

Date Time Original: 2004:12:19 11:18:31
Exposure Time: 1/319
F-Number: 11.00
ISO: 320

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

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Family Guy, S07E02 'I Dream of Jesus': Peter: Brian, can I see that paper for a sec? (Brian gives Peter the paper. Peter peruses the paper.) Peter: Huh... that's odd... I thought that would big news.

A greyish, cardinal in Arizona with a blunter beak is a pyrrhuloxia.

Just don't ask me to pronounce it.

I've heard it called the gray cardinal. Red mask and tummy, red on wings and tail, that fat yellowish bill.

The regular (northern) cardinals around here are very gray in the winter, but not as gray as this. And their faces and bills are black and red, respectively.

It is a Pyrrhuloxia - markings = stubby strong-curved bill; longer & greyer crest than Nirthern Cardinal

By Marty Swanhall (not verified) on 15 Sep 2009 #permalink

Actually, Northern Cardinals don't have a separate winter plumage. The gray ones are females and young birds -- the males will still be bright red. But they are gathering at feeders in the winter, while in the summer males are singing and otherwise calling attention to themselves as the females very quietly incubate. So the gray females are simply much more noticeable in the winter.

Spot on as far as distinguishing N. Cardinal from Pyrrhuloxia, however.