Cardenal Desértico

Pyrrhuloxias feed on seeds and insects and benefit cotton fields by destroying great numbers of cotton worms and weevils. Partial to mesquite thickets, these birds use their strong bills to crush the mesquite beans. Although shy and difficult to detect in their dense habitat, they respond to squeaking noises made by an observer. When an observer approaches, a pair will fly up to a high watch post, 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," the Pyrrhuloxia is similar to the Northern Cardinal in most respects except that it is often found in flocks after the breeding season.