Desert Cardinal Determination

Thank you so much Karen for your visit and wonderful comment about my bird photography. I really appreciate it! They are in some southwestern state and northern Mexico. So, that may be why you have not seen them. I have to admit that I have lived in Arizona for 52 years, and it has only been the last 7 years that I have noticed them. I live on an acre of natural Sonoran Desert vegetation. So, they have lots of trees and plants to visit or nest nearby. I have a beautiful little tune that the males sing. This was a rare and amazing opportunity to get these images. I needed to use my zoom lens, as he was way up at the top of this ocotillo plant.

Thank you so much, Jenny. He is gorgeous for sure, in a gorgeous setting, at a gorgeous time of day. I am always well pleased when I can manage to capture birds like this. Totally unplanned and no tripod (no time for those with my bird photography. It makes for a fun challenge. I appreciate you sharing this on Pinterest. Very generous of you.

Thank you Alinna for feeling this is nice. This desert cardinal gave me the opportunity get about 5 good shots, as he flew to the top of this very tall ocotillo plant. Lots of bonuses for me with this guy.

Jasna! Thank you for visiting my gallery and sharing your wonderful comment about my photography. I really appreciate it!

Thank you Linda, so sweet of you. I really appreciate it! Janet💕

Hanne! So fabulous of you to visit my gallery and share your beautiful comment about this. Thank you so much for that, choosing it as a favorite, and sharing it on Facebook and Twitter. So thoughtful of you. I really appreciate it! Janet💕

Thank you Jerry for sharing your beautiful thoughts and promoting my photography. That love and support means so much. What joy we gain from the Creator's handwork. So generous, we will never get tired of it! Janet💕

Thank you Debby for promoting this piece from Beauty of Arizona discussion thread Native Fauna of Arizona. I am glad you like it and feel it’s gorgeous. I really appreciate that, choosing it as a a favorite and sharing on Twitter. This is a male pyrrhuloxia, which I have seen, but didn’t know it’s name. Birds that come around my desert can be very difficult to photograph, as they take off when they detect movement. Having so much desert flora, especially the tall ocotillos to escape to. That is what happened in this case, but I was prepared with my zoom lens. I managed to take about 5 good images, before he flew away. Janet💕

Thank you Kate. I am glad you like this and feel it’s gorgeous. I appreciate that and also for choosing this as one of your favorites. Janet💕

John! Aren't you just so sweet to take the time to stop by my gallery to Congratulate me for the HOMEPAGE FEATURE in your AWEsome Art Group, "IMAGES THAT EXCITE YOU!" It certainly is an image that excites me and hope it does others as well. Janet💕

I have had the opportunity to photograph a cardinal, but never a pyrrhuloxia (desert cardinal, although not a cardinal). So it was quite a treat. Thank you dear Jane for your lovely comment and for the HOMEPAGE FEATURE in your lovely Art Group, "AMERICAN DESERT SOUTHWEST!" That is always lovely to get that special recognition. I am glad you feel this is excellent, that means a lot. I was able to capture him from different angles, and at this point, it did take off. Their habitat is Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and the edges of Mexico. It is said that sometimes that hybridization can occur between this bird and the northern cardinal. Big hugs to my artBUDette, Janet💕

Isn’t he a cutie though! Thank you Bill, for sharing such a wonderful comment about this. I am delighted that you like it and feel it’s awesome. I appreciate knowing that and also for choosing this as one of your favorites. Janet 💕

I prefer my zoom lens on my Nikon, but I couldn’t get in close enough, as this is a very tall Ocotillo. So used my 2000mm zoom Nikon camera. He was singing away in my Texas Laurel and I went to get both cameras just in case it didn’t stay put. As I approached he flew into the neighbor’s yard at the top of the Ocotillo. I managed to get some captures before he flew away. Thank you for visiting and sharing your wonderful comment. I really appreciate it! Janet💕

As I mentioned to Donna it technically is not a cardinal, but do bear the alternate name, desert cardinal. Which I like better than pyrrhuloxia.

This technically is not a cardinal but a male pyrrhuloxia. We do have northern cardinals here. I have photographed them right in my desert acre. But I never had the opportunity to photograph this bird closely related to a cardinal. I prefer their other name used, “desert cardinal.” Thank you Donna for visiting and feeling this is fantastic. I appreciate that, and for sharing on Twitter. Janet 💕