Pyrrhuloxia

Look in desert scrub, mesquite thickets and arid gardens of the southwestern United States and Mexico, where its crested silhouette and stout, curved bill are distinctive against pale desert vegetation. It forages low in shrubs and on the ground for seeds and insects, often in pairs that stay together year-round, and visits to feeding stations or water sources are common in the hottest, driest months when natural food and water are scarce. Cooler early mornings bring the most reliable activity.