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