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Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings

13 Bird Species

Black-headed Grosbeak

This species is very similar in some plumages to Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and the two have been known to hybridize. Alternate Male: Mostly rusty orange breast, flanks, nape, and rump contrast with a black head, black back with pale streaks, black tail with white outer tail feathers, and black wings wi more...

Length: 18 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

Blue Bunting

Stocky bunting with a stout dark bill with curved culmen. Male: Bluish-black overall with lighter blue on crown, nape, cheeks, shoulders, and rump. Female: Warm brown with darker wings and tail. Juvenile males have brownish wings. Blue Grosbeak similar but larger and larger-billed with rufous wingbar more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 22 cm

Blue Grosbeak

Smaller than other grosbeaks, and similar to Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeaks are recognized by their heavy bills and prominent wing bars. Adult Male: Dark metallic blue overall, with blackish tail and wings, and two chestnut wing bars. At close range, the back shows indistinct darker streaks. The lore more...

Length: 16 cm Wingspan: 27 cm

Crimson-collared Grosbeak

A dark, stocky grosbeak; rare to South Texas. Adult male has black head and throat, dark crimson nape and breast fading to blackish belly, plain black wings and back, and relatively long, black tail. Adult female is yellow where male is red; black hood contrasts sharply with dull yellow nape and brea more...

Length: 22 cm Wingspan: 33 cm

Dickcissel

Alternate adult male has triangular black patch or V on yellow breast, white throat, white supercilium and malar stripe tinged yellow on face, gray head and nape, large conical bill, streaked back, reddish shoulders, brown wings, plain grayish to white on flanks and belly, white undertail coverts, gr more...

Length: 16 cm Wingspan: 25 cm

Indigo Bunting

This species is closely related to Lazuli Bunting. Alternate Male: Dark iridescent blue overall, darker on the head. The lores and wings are blackish. The bill is gray. First alternate males usually blotched blue and brown. Basic Male: Brown feather edges obscure most of the blue. Brownish belly fade more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 20 cm

Lazuli Bunting

This species (pronounced as both lah-ZU-lee and LAZH-oo-lie) is closely related to Indigo Bunting, and sometimes hybridizes with that species. Alternate Male: Bright iridescent blue head and upperparts, with two white wing bars. Upper wing bar is broader than lower. The breast shows a band of rusty-o more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 20 cm

Northern Cardinal

Familiar and colorful resident of Eastern North America and the Desert Southwest. Adult male is bright red overall with dusky red wings and back, black lores and bib, conical red bill, and prominent, triangular crest. Female is muted brownish-red with reddish wings and tail, dull reddish crest, brigh more...

Length: 22 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

Painted Bunting

Adult male is colorful and unmistakable, with blue head, green wings, and red underparts, throat, rump, and eye ring. Female is green overall, brighter on upperparts, with relatively thick conical bill. Juveniles are similar to adult female, but drabber green; other juvenile buntings are brownish ove more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 22 cm

Pyrrhuloxia

A brown-and-red, cardinal-like bird of the Southwest. Adult male is grayish-brown overall with yellow bill, red face, red throat, red belly stripe, red crest, and reddish-brown wings and tail. Adult female has similar pattern but is drabber, more brown than gray; note pointy reddish crest and yellow more...

Length: 22 cm Wingspan: 31 cm

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

A colorful grosbeak of Eastern North America. Alternate Adult male is distinctive, with bright red breast, white underparts, black head and upperparts, white rump, whitish bill, and large white spots in wings. Alternate Adult female is streaky brown and white, with pinkish bill, white supercilium and more...

Length: 20 cm Wingspan: 32 cm

Varied Bunting

In all plumages, this bunting can be distinguished by its short primary projection and thin decurved upper mandible. Alternate Male: Dark metallic blue overall, with a red nape and a reddish-purple cast over the back and underparts. At close range, note the partial red eye ring and black on the face. more...

Length: 12 cm Wingspan: 20 cm

Yellow Grosbeak

This large grosbeak is recognized by its massive dark gray bill and bold color pattern. Male: Bright yellow overall, including the underwing coverts, with limited fine black streaking on the back. Wings are black with two white wing bars, white tips on the tertials, and a white patch at the base of t more...

Length: 22 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

Non-vegetated Areas

0 species

Salt Water

0 species

Human-altered Areas

6 species