Birdland: A ‘Very, Very Special Sighting’

Denver birders were ecstatic in February over the rare appearance of a Pyrrhuloxia. This cardinal-like bird usually sticks to Arizona and Mexico, but inexplicably decided to pay a visit up north. Bird-lovers flocked to the west-central Denver neighborhood near 12th and Newton Street for a glimpse of the beauty, and posted many observations online. The Pyrrhuloxia was easy to spot: Just look for the group of people standing on the sidewalk, pointing into the tree. Note: The fellow in this photo is not the Denver bird, but one of his Arizona cousins photographed last year by Mark Silverstein.