I never knew this bird existing until Mary DeVaughn sent me a link last weekend.
This is a red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata), native to South America and introduced in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Although he looks like a northern cardinal wearing a gray cloak, he’s actually in the tanager family.
(photo from Wikimedia Commons. Click the caption to see the original)
Did you know that Audubon called our Northern Cardinal by the name Cardinal Grosbeak?
That’s news to me but it makes sense since the northern cardinal is in the grosbeak family. Hmmm.
I love seeing these cardinals in Hawaii – reminds me of home. I don’t know why I always thought our cardinals were finches, but grosbeak makes more sense.
It was a video clue on Jeopardy! last week, and a triple-stumper! I’d never heard of it before, either.
Is that also known as a Kentucky Cardinal?