Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Cardinalidae
Cardinalis—Cardinals // Passerina—Varied Buntings // Spiza—Dickcissels
This group includes the Northern Cardinal and the congeneric Pyrrhuloxia, grosbeaks, and the Dickcissel. Interestingly enough, the grosbeaks are unknown from our Pleistocene faunas despite the easy identifiability of their large beaks.
The Northern Cardinal currently occurs in the southern half of Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and occasionally in southeastern New Mexico, thence south into the Big Bend. The Pyrrhuloxia occurs throughout the Lower Sonoran Life Zone in our region.
Sites.
Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1993c).
Literature. Harris 1993c.
The Lazuli and Painted Buntings currently occur in our region. The former is widespread, the latter primarily in the southern portions of our region.
Sites.
Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?).
Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).
Literature. Harris 1993c; Rea and Hargrave 1984.
A single species of Dickcissel (Spiza americana) is recognized. Dickcissels are primarily Midwestern in the breeding season, but occur along the eastern portions of New Mexico. Ligon (1961) found them especially common in the Pecos Valley during migration.
Sites.
Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?).
Literature. Harris 1993c; Ligon 1961.
Last Update: 20 Mar 2013