Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Pyrrhuloxia

"Pyrrhuloxia" isn't a disease picked up at cheap motels.  It's the name of a cardinal-like bird from the North American southwest.   The  Latin name is  Cardinalis sinuatus.  How'd  they get stuck with a common name more complex than the scientific one?
They don't have them in Los Angeles, where I live.  Too bad.  I think they're cute.
Look at the sincere, determined expression on this Wikipedia photo:
Okay, I'm anthropomorphizing...
...but I bet he sincerely thinks the seed block is his and is determined to keep it that way.
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6 comments:

  1. Pile Girl10:15 PM

    I like your illustration. He looks angry.

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  2. Linda Davick10:07 AM

    This bird is very cute. His name sounds like the name for a kitten though, not a bird.

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  3. Namowal (Jennifer Bourne)12:32 PM

    Thanks, Pile Girl.
    I'd originally planned a friendlier looking bird, but I started doodling and fell in love with the "tough guy" pose.
    (He's bluffing, by the way!)

    Hi Linda,
    I believe "Pyrrhuloxia" comes from Greek words that mean "reddish" (or firey?) and "crossbill."
    I agree they're cute. I think they'd be more iconic (like the Northern Cardinal) if they had a wider range.

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  4. GhostBuild11:21 PM

    Heya Namowal... I like the illo... do you do much bird watching?

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  5. Namowal (Jennifer Bourne)8:59 AM

    Thanks, Ghostbuild.
    Nice to hear from you!
    I'm a slacker birdwatcher: I can identify the local birds in the city or local day hikes. I'm not the type who'd camp out in a tree in the middle of the woods to catch a glimpse of a rare warbler.
    Are you a bird person?

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  6. stray5:13 AM

    It's two books: (1) the birds and (2) the pigs.

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I dislike typing the quasi-legible words too, but without them it's Spam City, Sorry!