Another bird of winter

Photos by Marty Horowitz 1/15/15

Western Bluebirds are also winter visitors to Sabino Canyon. Like Cedar Waxwings, they enjoy a Desert Mistletoe berry (or two). Unlike the Cedar Waxwings, the sexes look different; the male Western Bluebirds are the prettier, bluer of the two.

And the fruit from yesterday's post is Wild Cotton (Gossypium thurberi). Another photo here. This plant is in the Mallow family (Malvaceae); seeds are encapsulated in rather elaborate and beautiful fruit.

Highly trained naturalist holds other fruits from plants in the Mallow family.
Photo by Matt Ball 12/24/2014