Seen in south Arizona, south New Mexico as well as in south and west Texas.

Numerous in hedgerows, farmlands in winter, and seen in thickets, thorn scrub, woodland edges and at backyard feeders.

Male is mostly gray with scarlet marks on fringes including a long scarlet tipped crown. Female has much less red. The bill is stout curved and yellow but can darken in winter.

Immature are like the female but paler with pale wing bars and dark bill.

After I enjoy my mid day meal, I drive to the north trailhead of the bird trail and take a couple photos here. Next, I drive to the south trailhead of the bird trail and walk the 150 yards distance to the bird blind and take some photos but there are not many birds here.

I awake just before sunrise, drive to Bastrop state park where I go to the facilities and take a hot shower. Then, I drive the seventy or so miles to Pedernales Falls state park and go directly to the bird blind. The hosts have already arrived but I am the first to sign the log book today.

The number of new birds amazes me and I stay until noon before packing out.

After visiting other state parks yesterday, I drive here to visit the bird blind and the sunset at the falls. After dark, I drive to the campsite and set up for the evening. It is comfortable early this evening but then the temperature begins to drop.

I key in Salineño Wildlife Refuge into my GPS and find a town of that name which is not far south of Laredo, so I drive south along the Rio Grande River, the border between Texas and México.