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, bright red bill, and faded black face. Pyrrhuloxia of arid Southwest has yellow bill and is mostly gray-brown.

Length: 22 (cm) Wingspan: 30 (cm)

Voice:

Loud, clear whistled phrases, with each note repeated several times before changing pitch. Call is a single, hard chip.

Habitat:

Urban and suburban areas, woodlands, open areas with trees and shrubs.

Behavior:

Generally conspicuous and common. Occupies all levels of tree canopy, sometimes alighting on the ground. Tolerant of human presence and commonly visits backyards. Nest is a cup or platform of twigs, lined with finer grasses, placed in dense shrub or forked tree branches, usually less than 30 feet above ground.

Feeding:

Forages by gleaning foliage or gnawing on seeds; eats a variety of insects, seeds, and fruit. Commonly visits bird feeders.