Birdland: Slow, Sweet Melody

The Red-crested Cardinal is a songbird, whistling a slow, sweet melody with notes at high frequencies. Sometimes called the Brazilian Cardinal, these birds are actually more closely related to the family of tanagers than they are to other cardinals. They are native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and are also a common sight in Puerto Rico and Hawaii, where this photo was taken. Males and females have similar plumage, with bright red heads and crests. This Red-crested Cardinal was photographed by Mark Silverstein.