Bird Guide

Pyrrhuloxia vs Vermilion Cardinal

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)

Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatus

Small35 gShrubland

The desert cardinal is a medium-sized song bird; the length for both sexes is about 8.3 in (21 cm), while the typical weight is 0.8–1.5 oz (24–43 g). The most obvious differences between the male desert cardinal and the northern cardinal are in their coloring. The desert cardinal is predominantly brownish-gray with a red breast, a red mask, and a yellow, parrot-like bill that is stout and rounded. The females of the two species resemble each other much more closely, but the shapes of their bills are diagnostic.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Pyrrhuloxia
Recorded by Ryan Douglas · Song · Portal, Cochise County, Arizona, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: tcantrell52 · CC BY 4.0
Vermilion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus)

Vermilion Cardinal

Cardinalis phoeniceus

Small39 gShrubland

The vermilion cardinal is 19 cm (7.5 in) long. Both sexes have long feathers on the crown that are typically erect. The male is almost entirely red, though it varies from very bright to somewhat dusky. It has a narrow black band around the lower part of its heavy gray bill. The female's crown is gray and the elongated feathers red. The rest of the head is brownish gray with white patches near the bill. The upperparts are grayish brown warming to brown on the rump and the underparts are buffy cinnamon. The juvenile is similar to the female but with more, and richer, brown. Voice: The vermilion cardinal's song is "a pleasant...'cheer o-weet-toweet toweet toweet'". Its call is a "chip".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: johnyochum · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Pyrrhuloxia and Vermilion Cardinal.