Tag: american bird conservancy

The beautiful Yellow Cardinal is the only member of its genus, Gubernatrix (governess), a name based on the Latin word gubernare, which means to command or direct. This title is a nod to the Yellow Cardinal’s striking crest, which reminded taxonomists of the feathered and plumed hats worn by military commanders of that day.

Both sexes of Yellow Cardinal have a pointed black crest and black throat patch. The male is the more vivid of the pair, bright yellow below and streaky yellow-olive above, with a yellow eyebrow and … Continue

The handsome Red-Crested Cardinal is well-named, with a bright red crest that the bird can raise and lower and a red head and chest. It’s white underneath, with a gray back, wings, and tail and a conical, light-colored bill. Juvenile Red-Crested Cardinals are similar to the adults, but are brownish-orange where the adults are red. The Red-Crested Cardinal is sometimes called the Brazilian Cardinal, a nod to its South American distribution. Its genus name, Paroaria, derives from Tiéguacú paroára, a name for a small yellow, red and grey bird … Continue

The handsome male Phainopepla is clad in sleek black plumage that inspired its name, a composite of the Greek words phainos (shining) and peplos (robe). The male also has striking white wing patches that are visible as he flies. Female and juvenile Phainopeplas are a more subtle ash-gray, with white edging on their wing feathers instead of the male’s bold white patches. Both sexes have bright red eyes, small, short bills, and ragged-looking crests.

Often described as a “black cardinal with a red eye,” the Phainopepla is actually unrelated … Continue

The Florida Scrub-Jay is an uncommon member of the wide-ranging Corvid family, found only along the ancient, shrubby sand ridges and dunes which run through the central part of the U.S. state of Florida. This jay is more subtle in appearance than flashier family members such as the Blue Jay and Green Jay, with understated plumage of soft blue, silvery gray, and touches of white.

As intelligent and curious as other members of its family, the Florida Scrub-Jay is quite tame, and will readily approach people to investigate shiny … Continue

The Buff-Bellied Hummingbird is a specialty of the southern U.S. border, and birders that want to add one to their life list need to travel to South Texas or make their way further south, into Mexico, Belize, or Guatemala. This gleaming green hummingbird is larger than a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, and can be identified by its black-tipped red bill, rusty-orange tail, and eponymous buff-colored belly and undertail. It is closely related to the Vulnerable Honduran Emerald, a species endemic to that country. The Buff-bellied Hummingbird is sometimes called the Fawn-Breasted … Continue