A male Vermilion Flycatcher visited our mesquite lot this afternoon. Bruce noticed him perched up on top of a snag, and was able to grab the camera in time to get a quick pic. The Vermilion flew back and forth between the mesquite trees, chasing insects and battling the gusty winds.The Vermilion Flycatcher's scientific name - Pyrocephalus rubinus - literally means "Fire-head Red". The male is a bright flaming red, with brown back and wings. The female is a lot plainer, with a softer brown color and a pale rosy-colored belly.
Vermilions are a Bird Species of Special Concern in California, due in great part to destruction and fragmentation of the riparian habitat they prefer. We haven't seen them too often on our lot, but we do see them occasionally at SilverRock Resort and the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center. They are beautiful little birds, and definitely a crowd pleaser when we are fortunate enough to find one on bird walks.
"Love and a red rose can't be hid."
~Thomas Holcroft
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