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Desert Cardinal or Pyrrhuloxia

Desert Cardinal or Pyrrhuloxia line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Desert Cardinal full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Desert Cardinal illustration was completed on 6.1.2011. I have seen these lovely songbirds in the deserts of Arizona, and have intended to draw one for some time. Of course the Northern Cardinals with their entire body being red had to be completed first, these birds make wonderful subjects to draw. The illustration is based on a photo by Ned Harris.

Information about the Desert Cardinal:

The Desert Cardinal or Pyrrhuloxia is a medium-sized member of the order of Passeriformes. It is native to the deserts and scrublands of the southwestern parts of North America. It is one of only three birds of the genus Cardinalis, with the Northern and Vermillion Cardinals being the other two. These birds go to lengths of about 8.3 inches (21 cm) with an the average weight is 0.8–1.5 ounces (24–43 g). Both males and females are about the same size. Pyrrhuloxia does not generally migrate, but spends the year round in the dry deserts and mesquite thickets, where it feeds on fruits, seed and insects. The bird gets it's distinctive name "Pyrrhuloxia" from a combination of the genus names Pyrrhula (bullfinches) and Loxia (crossbills). The roots mean "flame-colored" and "crooked," and accurately describe the bright reddish gray bird with the crooked bill.