{"id":10495,"date":"2017-11-30T07:09:21","date_gmt":"2017-11-30T12:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/p4td.lightshedder.com\/?p=10495"},"modified":"2017-11-30T07:22:17","modified_gmt":"2017-11-30T12:22:17","slug":"female-pyrrhuloxia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psnp.info\/p4td_\/?p=10495","title":{"rendered":"Female Pyrrhuloxia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I took my Point and Shoot Nature Photography Field Techniques students to the Friend’s Cactus Garden at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge at the end of our 3 hour class for some macro practice. No cactus in bloom in November of course, but cacti always provide lots of interesting macro detail. I was explaining “tele-macro” techniques so my camera was already at 600mm when I looked up to see this female Pyrrhuloxia sitting in the very tall yuca. Yes, I know, that does not look like a real word: Pyrrhuloxia, but it is the name of this close relative of the Northern Cardinal. They are more common in Southeast Arizona, southern New Mexico, and South Texas, and I was somewhat surprised to see one a Bosque. It turns out that there is an winter range extension up the Rio Grande Valley that brings them that far north. I am pretty sure this is my first Bosque sighting. This bird also has the least red on it of any Pyrrhuloxia I have ever seen. It may an immature female. Only the unmistakable bill and crest give it away. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Cropped and processed in Photoshop Express.<\/p>\n

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