Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Yuma West Wetlands, Yuma County

This Northern Cardinal was photographed by Henry Detwiler on 19 June 2016. This species has been reported at this location since 2013; it is unknown whether there is just one individual or multiple.

The Northern Cardinal does not occur regularly in Yuma County, though strays occurred throughout the LCRV during the 1970s-80s. The nearest populations to Yuma are at Cabeza Prieta NWR, Pima County, and the upper Bill Williams River, La Paz County. Given the isolation of this site from current cardinal range, its proximity to the Mexican border, and the frequency of cardinals in captivity, individuals seen in Yuma are believed to be escaped cage birds. However, the possibility of natural strays cannot be ruled out.

Distinctive. Identifiable as the southwestern subspecies superbus by longer crest, limited black above the bill.

19 June 2016, photo by Henry Detwiler

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