In order to entice the birds to dwell around the house where we can see them, I toss some bird seed and “Critter Crunch” around the house. It seems to work since we are frequently visited by many species of birds, including this cardinal.
Just the other day, we were wondering why this bird is bright red. Most species out here seem to blend in with the desert, but not this guy. You can spot him in a palo verde or a mesquite 500 feet away. When the wall where he is perched is finished and painted the color of the house, he will blend in a little bit better.
The little critter looks like a North American Cardinal, but different.
Our Arizona bird guide sez’ Northern Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis.